Kathmandu, September 11: Nepal remained under curfew on Thursday after four days of deadly “Gen Z” protests brought down the K.P. Sharma Oli government, left at least 34 people dead, and forced the military to take control in several parts of the country.
The protests, triggered by a now-lifted social media ban, escalated into arson attacks on government buildings, homes of political leaders, and offices of major parties. The Health Ministry confirmed 34 deaths and over 600 injuries so far.
Key Developments:
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Curfew and Army Deployment: The Nepal Army extended prohibitory orders in Kathmandu Valley and other districts but allowed limited public movement as the situation eased.
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Prisoners Released: Authorities said 13,000 prisoners across all 77 districts were freed during the unrest, although details remain unclear.
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Leadership Talks: Protesters, split between supporters of former Chief Justice Sushila Karki and Kul Man Ghising, continue to push for an interim government. Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah, once a frontrunner, has backed Karki and asked President Ram Chandra Paudel to form a new administration immediately.
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Supreme Court Resumes Work: The Court will restart hearing habeas corpus petitions from September 14 after its files and servers were damaged in Tuesday’s arson attacks.
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Airport Reopens: Tribhuvan International Airport reopened Thursday after being closed for 24 hours amid the violence, allowing Indian states to start evacuating stranded citizens.
The protests have exposed deep public anger over corruption, unemployment, and economic inequality despite recent growth figures. The movement, led largely by young Nepalis via digital platforms, remains divided over interim leadership, slowing the transition process.