Daijiworld Media Network - Kathmandu
Kathmandu, Sep 9: Nepal is witnessing its worst unrest in decades as nationwide protests led by young citizens against corruption, nepotism, and a sweeping social media ban spiraled into deadly violence. At least 21 people have been killed and more than 300 injured since Monday.
Shocking videos circulating online showed Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, wife of former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, being kicked and punched after protesters stormed her Kathmandu residence. The 63-year-old minister was seen bleeding as furious demonstrators filmed the attack.
The capital has turned into a battlefield, with groups of young men and women clashing with police in pitched street battles. Protesters carried placards reading “Shut down corruption, not social media” and “Youths against corruption”, as hashtags like #NepoKid and #PoliticiansNepoBabyNepal trended online.
The unrest erupted after authorities blocked Facebook, YouTube, X, and 26 other platforms, accusing them of being unregistered. The ban came on the heels of viral TikTok videos exposing the lavish lifestyles of politicians’ children, sparking outrage in a country where average income remains just $1,400 a year.
Observers warn the uprising has reached a tipping point, surpassing even the 2006 revolt that forced Nepal’s king to step down.