At least 19 people were killed and more than 300 injured on Sunday in Nepal as violent protests by youth and students erupted across the country against corruption and the government’s ban on social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
According to officials, 17 deaths occurred in Kathmandu Valley and two in Itahari. Casualties were reported from multiple hospitals, including seven at Trauma Center, three each at Everest Hospital and Civil Hospital, two at Kathmandu Medical College, and one at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital. Authorities said the identities of the deceased and injured were yet to be confirmed.
Nepal Home Minister Resigns Amid Political Crisis
In a late-night development, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned, citing moral responsibility for the deaths. He submitted his resignation to Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli during an emergency cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister’s residence. Lekhak had been appointed on July 15, 2024.
Earlier, Prime Minister Oli had convened a National Security Council meeting with senior ministers and security officials to assess the situation.
Curfew Imposed in Multiple Cities
Curfew orders were announced in several parts of the country to contain unrest. In Kathmandu Valley, restrictions were enforced in New Baneshwor after protesters stormed the Parliament premises. In Pokhara, curfew began at 2 p.m. following vandalism at the Chief Minister’s Office.
Protests spread beyond Kathmandu to cities including Biratnagar, Chitwan, Jhapa, and Rupandehi, as police used live fire to disperse demonstrators.
Human Rights Commission Raises Alarm
The National Human Rights Commission of Nepal (NHRC) expressed grave concern over the casualties, urging authorities to stop the “excessive use of force.”
“The Constitution of Nepal and international human rights laws guarantee peaceful expression of dissent. The use of excessive force as well as violent incidents during protests are deeply concerning,” the NHRC said. Monitoring teams were deployed in Kathmandu, Pokhara, Butwal, Chitwan, Biratnagar, Rautahat, Sunsari, Jhapa, and Dang but also faced violent attacks.
Opposition Demands PM’s Resignation and Fresh Elections
The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Nepal’s fourth-largest party in parliament, demanded Prime Minister Oli’s resignation and called for fresh elections.
“The relevance of the current government has completely ended. We demand the prime minister’s immediate resignation and a high-level judicial probe into the incident,” the RSP said.
Meanwhile, the ruling Nepali Congress also held an emergency meeting led by party president Sher Bahadur Deuba at his residence.
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