Nepal's Army Evacuates Ministers As Gen-Z Protests Spiral Out Of Control On Day 2

Last Updated:September 09, 2025, 14:59 IST

Nepal Gen-Z Protests: Gen-Z protesters attacked the houses of several ministers a as demonstrations against the government continued on Tuesday.

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

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

The Nepali Army began evacuating ministers from their residences in Bhaisepati after a series of arson and vandalism incidents, according to The Kathmandu Post. Senior security officials stated that the army has also been deployed to safeguard the parliament building, which was occupied by protesters.

Helicopters were deployed to Vaishali Minister quarters to rescue ministers from the mob, as protesters vandalised the residence of Nepal President Ram Chandra Poudel, and and set the houses of Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak on fire.

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. Prime Minister Oli’s private residence was set on fire, while former Nepal PM Prachanda’s house was attacked by an angry mob on Tuesday.

Gunshots were also fired near Oli’s residence, which resulted in one person receiving injuries, according to reports. The house of Nepal Minister for Communication, Information and Broadcasting Prithvi Subba Gurung was also set ablaze on Tuesday.

Streets turned into warzones as protesters clashed with police in several parts of the country. Hundreds of demonstrators also 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.

Nepal Army Takes Outgoing PM, Ministers Into Protective Custody

Amid raging protests and escalating violence, the Nepal Army has taken Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and several cabinet ministers into protective custody, moving them to undisclosed safe locations, reported Nepal website Khabarbub.com. Officials said the decision came after demonstrators torched Parliament, vandalised government offices, and stormed the homes of senior political leaders. One minister, speaking to Khabarhub, confirmed being under Army protection but admitted uncertainty about their whereabouts. “The Army has placed us under security, but we ourselves don’t know where we are being kept," the minister said.

Several Ministers Resign

The widespread protests in Nepal have triggered ministerial resignations, deepened rifts within the ruling party and spurred calls for the resignation of Prime Minister Oli. On Tuesday, Nepal’s Water Supply Minister Pradeep Yadav, Health Minister Pradip Paudel and Sports Tejulal Chaudhary were the latest to quit the Cabinet, escalating the crisis.

Meanwhile, PM Oli has called for an all-party meeting to address the escalating tensions. “Violence is not the way. We need to find a peaceful way out through dialogue," he said.

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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 from authorities.

Oli’s Government Under Fire

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.

Meanwhile, India on Tuesday issued an advisory for its nationals in Nepal, amid the protests and tensions in the country over its ban on social media platforms. It asked Indians in Nepal to exercise caution and adhere to the steps and guidelines issued by the Nepal authorities.

(with inputs from agencies)

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