Outlook Business Desk
After emergency Cabinet talks and widespread protests by Gen Z over social media restrictions in Kathmandu, Nepal’s Communication Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung announced that the ban on platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook was lifted. The original decision to impose the ban had been made public on Thursday, September 4, 2025.
On Monday, September 8, protests erupted in Kathmandu after the government blocked 26 social media platforms that had failed to register with authorities, amid a crackdown on fake IDs, misinformation and hate speech. Popular apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, Linkedin, Snapchat and Facebook were included, sparking widespread anger and violent clashes.
At least 19 people were killed and around 400 injured during protests by mostly students, the Kathmandu Valley police confirmed. Security forces used batons, rubber bullets and water cannons to manage the crowd, leaving both civilians and police officers wounded.
Thousands of young people, including students waving national flags and carrying placards, were stopped by police from approaching the parliament building. Authorities had set up barbed wire barricades, as protests are not allowed in the area, preventing demonstrators from advancing.
Local reports stated that demonstrators marched from Damak Chowk to the municipal office, burning an effigy of Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and attempting to break through the gates. Police fired rubber bullets, critically injuring one person, while several motorcycles were set on fire, escalating tensions.
Students expressed that the social media ban was only one trigger for their protests, calling for broader change. Protesters highlighted opposition to the government’s authoritarian attitude and widespread corruption. Police confirmed that security personnel were also injured and are receiving treatment at Kathmandu’s Civil Hospital.
Military authorities confirmed that the Nepal Army has been mobilised to manage the escalating protests. Kathmandu Chief District Officer Chhabi Lal Rijal issued a notice stating that no movement, demonstration, meeting, gathering, or sit-in will be permitted in designated restricted zones to ensure public safety.
On the other hand, Nepal Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned on moral grounds following the deadly clashes, representing the Nepali Congress in PM Oli’s coalition. Agriculture Minister Ramnath Adhikari also stepped down, expressing remorse over protesters’ deaths and citing a moral obligation to hold the government accountable for the incident.
Meanwhile, Nepali artists and entertainers voiced support for the protesters. Nepal Actor Hari Bansha Acharya wrote on Facebook that today’s youth not only question but demand accountability, stressing that the movement targets corruption and misuse of power, not the democratic system itself.