Gen-Z Protests Defy Curfew, Tear Down Barricades As Protests Continue On Day 2

Last Updated:September 09, 2025, 12:08 IST

Gen-Z protesters attacked the house of former Nepal PM Prachanda as demonstrations against the government - triggered by a social media ban - continued on Tuesday.

Demonstrators shout slogans against the Nepal government on Tuesday. (Reuters)

Gen-Z crowds flooding Kathmandu over a now-revoked social media ban tore down barricades and defied curfew on the second day of their protest on Tuesday, even as Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli urged dialogue and called for calm.

At least 19 people were killed as violence flared up on Monday over a controversial social media ban by the Nepalese government. Protests continued on Tuesday as people defied an indefinite curfew, tore down barricades and shouted slogans against Oli, prompting police to fire tear gas shells. Former Nepal PM Prachanda’s house was attacked by an angry mob on Tuesday as the situation escalated.

Demonstrators gathered in front of the Parliament and other places in Kathmandu. Organisers of the protests have called them “demonstrations by Gen Z" to express frustration with the government’s perceived lack of action to tackle corruption and boost economic opportunities.

Meanwhile, the house of Nepal Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung was also attacked on Tuesday as young Nepalis protested against the police opening fire on demonstrators in Kathmandu and Itahari, resulting in 20 deaths. The incident has triggered ministerial resignations, deepened rifts within the ruling party and spurred calls for the resignation of Prime Minister Oli.

The massive protests were triggered after the government banned 26 social media apps, including Facebook, YouTube and X, for failing to register with the authorities. The ban sparked widespread fury, especially among the younger generation who rely heavily on the apps for communication.

The police launched what analysts described as one of the deadliest crackdowns on protesters, which further fuelled protests as angry Nepalese citizens burnt tyres, vandalised the properties of politicians and government buildings, and demanded accountability.

Pressure On Oli To Resign

The protests escalated infighting within the ruling coalition of CPN-UML, Nepali Congress, Maoist Centre, and smaller allies, with the Maoist Centre directly blaming Oli for the violence through his “authoritarian and autocratic style."

Nepal’s Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak submitted his resignation on Monday, citing moral responsibility for the deaths. Agriculture Minister Ramnath Adhikari also resigned after receiving instructions from senior Nepali Congress leader Shekhar Koirala, who has asked his faction’s ministers to quit the government.

The resignations and infighting have raised doubts on the future of Oli’s government, as the opposition cranked up the pressure. The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) described the police action as “one of the cruelest and saddest incidents in Nepali history" and demanded the immediate dissolution of the government.

Meanwhile, Oli said he was “deeply saddened" over the deaths in a letter issued overnight following an emergency cabinet meeting. “The government was not in favour of stopping the use of social media and will ensure an environment for its use," he said.

The social media ban was one part of the fury of Nepali citizens. Unemployment in the Himalayan nation has been on a high and the GDP per capita is just $1,447, according to the World Bank. Popular platforms such as Instagram have millions of users in Nepal who rely on them for entertainment, news and business.

(with inputs from agencies)

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