Authorities in Nepal have reported that 19 people have died in the ongoing unrest in the country over the past 24 hours. A large number of citizens in the country have taken to the streets to protest the government’s decision to ban certain social media platforms and to express dissatisfaction with the spread of corruption in the country. Protesters attempted to enter the Parliament building in Kathmandu. Police used tear gas and batons to stop young people who were leading the effort to enter the Parliament building. In these protests, 17 people have died, while over 100 injured people are receiving treatment, including 28 police officers. Two people have also died in protests in Nepal’s Itahari city. Due to the escalating unrest, curfews have been imposed in some areas of Kathmandu. Nepal’s Prime Minister, KP Sharma Oli, has held an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss the ongoing unrest in the country.
Protesters said that these gatherings demonstrate the dissatisfaction of the country’s youth with the government. They noted that the government has failed to take effective measures against the widespread corruption in the country and has not worked to increase economic opportunities. In Nepal, with a population of 30 million, 90 percent of people use internet services. Nepal decided to block or ban some platforms, including the popular social media platform Facebook, after giving social media platforms a deadline to register with the relevant authorities in the country. The deadline for registration with Nepal’s Ministry of Communication expired on September 3.
The registration of social media platforms with relevant authorities in Nepal was opened under the pretext of preventing the misuse of such resources. The Nepalese government stated that fake accounts are being used to spread unverified information and work to create hatred among the public. Additionally, they claimed that cybercrime has increased, and social media platforms are being used to disrupt social harmony and public interest.
