The protests in Nepal, led largely by young people, quickly escalated into violence that left the country shaken. Demonstrators, angry over the blocking of social media platforms, turned their anger on political leaders. Among the most shocking incidents was the assault on five-time prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife Arzu Rana Deuba, who were both seen injured in videos circulated online.
On Monday, Kathmandu was gripped by chaos as police opened fire on the swelling crowds, leaving nineteen people dead. The following day, unrest intensified with government buildings and politicians’ residences set ablaze. Protesters targeted several senior leaders, including former prime minister Jhala Nath Khanal, whose wife Rajyalaxmi Chitrakar died after being trapped inside their burning home.
Former prime minister KP Sharma Oli also faced the fury of the crowds. Hours before his resignation, demonstrators torched his private residence in Balkot and damaged properties linked to President Ram Chandra Poudel, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Prithvi Subba Gurung, and Ramesh Lekhak. Eyewitnesses reported widespread arson at the homes and offices of political figures. Alarmed by the spiraling violence, the Nepali Army and security agencies urged both sides to exercise restraint and seek dialogue.
Although the government lifted the social media ban on Tuesday, anger persisted. Many protesters shifted their focus to corruption and the widening gap between political elites and ordinary citizens. Frustration also grew around nepotism, with resentment directed at the privileged lifestyles of politicians’ children compared to the bleak job prospects of most youth.
Nepal’s unemployment crisis has left many young people disillusioned. With nearly one in five unemployed, and over two thousand leaving the country daily in search of work abroad, the unrest has come to symbolize a generation’s deep frustration.
President Poudel appealed for calm and accepted Oli’s resignation, appointing him to head a caretaker government. But uncertainty remains over how much authority he still holds and whether the crisis can be defused.
