On Monday, violent protests took place under the leadership of youth in protest against the Nepal government imposing a ban on social media forums, killing five people and injured 42 people. The officers provided this information. The officers had to deploy the army to control the situation.
Thousands of youth, including school students, clashed with an anti-riot police under the banner of ‘Jane Zee’ in front of Parliament House in Kathmandu. According to eyewitnesses, some agitators entered the Parliament complex, after which the police had to run sticks to disperse the mob, resort to tear gas shells and rubber bullets.
A Nepal Police spokesman said that 42 people, including security personnel, were injured and are being treated at the Civil Hospital in Kathmandu. Sources in the hospital said that five people were killed in the violence. However, the police have not confirmed the number of dead.
Military officials said the army has been deployed to control the situation. The Kathmandu district administration implemented prohibitory orders from 12:30 pm to 10:00 pm to prevent unrest in the areas around Parliament House.
Chief District Officer Chitra Lal Rizal said in a notice, “The movement, demonstrations, meetings, meetings or demonstrations of the people in the restricted sector will not be allowed.” The local administration later also implemented these restrictive orders in Rashtrapati Bhavan, Vice President’s Housing and various areas of the Prime Minister’s Office.
The Nepal government banned 26 social media forums including Facebook, WhatsApp and X on September 4 for not following the compulsory registration process.
The government has clarified its attitude that the ban on social media forums has been imposed to regulate them, but the perception among the general public is that it will attack freedom of expression and can cause censorship.