Nineteen casualties in violent street demonstrations opposing the government in Nepal

Increasing Unrest in Nepal Over Social Media Shutdown: Chaos Ensues Amidst Protests, Resulting in Fatalities; Uncovering theReason Behind Facebook's Unexpected Halt.

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2025 September 17 . 2:40 AM

2 min read

Violence erupts on city streets during demonstrations against the Nepalese administration; 19... — Violence erupts on city streets during demonstrations against the Nepalese administration; 19 fatalities reported

Nineteen casualties in violent street demonstrations opposing the government in Nepal

In a series of events that have shaken Nepal, protests have erupted across the country following the controversial decision to block 26 online networks and the resignation of Interior Minister Ramesh Lekhak.

The resignation of Minister Lekhak, which occurred in the evening (local time), was reportedly due to pressure for the police's actions during the protests. The news was first reported by the Abendzeitung newspaper, but no further information about the resignation has been found in subsequent search results.

The decision to block the online networks has caused widespread outrage, leading to protests in various parts of Nepal. The protests have been particularly intense in Kathmandu, where thousands of protesters, primarily younger people aged around 18 to 30, attempted to storm the parliament building.

The police in Kathmandu have used force to prevent protesters from entering the parliament building, employing water cannons, tear gas, and live ammunition. As a result, over 100 people, including police officers, have been injured, and more than 17 deaths have been reported in Kathmandu alone. At least 19 people have died nationwide during the protests.

Some of the injured protesters in Kathmandu are in critical condition, with gunshot wounds to the head or chest. The protesters are primarily against the controversial decision to block social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, which they see as an infringement on their freedom of speech and a government attempt to expand its control over the platforms.

The government has accused the platforms of not registering properly, but the protesters argue that the move is an attempt to suppress dissent and control the flow of information. The Supreme Court ordered in August that the affected online services should be placed under state supervision to combat misinformation on the net, but the protesters see this as a further erosion of their rights.

The protests have also been fuelled by increasing corruption in the state, with the protesters in Kathmandu criticising the government's actions. The resignation of Minister Lekhak and the government's response to the protests will be closely watched in the coming days.