Nepal’s ‘Gen-Z Protest’ Turns Deadly as Police Open Fire, 18 Killed
8th September 2025, Kathmandu
The youth-led “Gen-Z protest” in Nepal has escalated into a national tragedy, with the death toll from police shootings reaching 18.
Nepal’s Gen-Z Protest
The demonstrations, which began as a stand against a government social media ban, have become a powerful movement against political corruption and a government many protesters believe has failed its people.
The incident, which saw students in college uniforms among the casualties, has sparked widespread outrage and a national reckoning. The protesters have issued a stark demand: the immediate resignation of all ministers and parliamentarians.
A Movement Triggered by a Ban, Fueled by Outrage
Initially, the protests were a response to the government’s decision to ban major social media platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube, citing their failure to register with Nepali authorities.
However, the movement quickly grew to encompass broader issues of governance and systemic corruption. The youth, who are the primary users of these platforms for communication, education, and business, have been using the slogan “Shut down corruption, not social media” to highlight their core message.
Videos and social media posts, which went viral on platforms still accessible, have contrasted the struggles of ordinary Nepalis with the opulent lifestyles of politicians’ children, fueling the public’s frustration and amplifying the anti-corruption sentiment.
Timeline of a Tragic Day
The violence erupted as protesters, many of them students, marched toward the Parliament building in Kathmandu. According to reports, the situation escalated when demonstrators breached barricades and entered a restricted zone, prompting a forceful response from security forces.
Police reportedly used tear gas, water cannons, and, ultimately, live ammunition to disperse the crowd.
The tragic death toll has been confirmed across several of Kathmandu’s hospitals:
Trauma Center: 7 deaths
Everest Hospital: 5 deaths
Civil Hospital: 3 deaths
Kathmandu Medical College, Sinamangal: 2 deaths
Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital: 1 death
In addition to the fatalities, over 200 protesters were injured, with many sustaining severe bullet wounds to the head and chest. Hospital sources have reported being overwhelmed with the influx of casualties.
Political Fallout and a Call for Change
The government’s response has been met with condemnation from human rights groups and a defiant public. The protesters’ core message—”The Government is not qualified to lead the country, The Parliament, The Government, The Police has failed us”—resonates with a population tired of political instability and a lack of accountability.
The demand for the immediate resignation of all ministers and parliamentarians signifies a complete loss of trust in the current political establishment.
The events of today have sent shockwaves across Nepal and the international community, highlighting a new generation’s readiness to take to the streets to demand a government that serves its people, not its own interests.
The future of Nepal’s political landscape now rests on the government’s next steps and the continued resolve of its youth to bring about a fundamental change.
For more: Nepal’s Gen-Z Protest
