At least 14 people were killed and dozens injured in Nepal’s capital on Monday after protests against a social media shutdown and government corruption spiraled into violent clashes, state television reported.
Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets as demonstrators attempted to storm parliament, breaking through barricades and setting fire to an ambulance.
Witnesses said protesters hurled stones and ferried the wounded to hospitals on motorcycles amid the chaos.
“The police have been firing indiscriminately,” one protester told ANI. “A bullet missed me but struck my friend standing behind me.”
Nepal Television reported more than 50 people injured, though authorities have yet to officially confirm the death toll or casualty figures.
Parliamentary spokesperson Ekram Giri confirmed some demonstrators had breached the parliamentary compound but said they did not enter the main building before being forced out by security forces.
The protests, which organizers describe as a “Gen Z movement,” have spread to several cities across the Himalayan nation, reflecting growing anger among young Nepalis over corruption and restrictive policies.
A recent government decision to block Facebook and other social media platforms has intensified public outrage.
Officials defended the ban, saying companies had failed to register with regulators and that the move was aimed at curbing hate speech, fake news, and online fraud.
With nearly 90 percent of Nepal’s 30 million people online, the shutdown has sparked frustration among digital-native youth who say their voices are being silenced.
