Nepal Gen Z Unrest Update: Army Takes Control, Asks Protesters To Return Looted Guns, Not Wear Uniforms
Army soldiers patrolled Kathmandu and other cities early Wednesday, enforcing restrictive orders and restoring calm, a day after violent anti-government protests swept across Nepal.
Published : September 10, 2025 at 10:17 AM IST
|Updated : September 10, 2025 at 12:49 PM IST
Kathmandu: Army personnel fanned across the streets of Nepal's capital Kathmandu on Wednesday, ordering people to stay home in an attempt to restore order after tens of thousands of protesters stormed and set fire to government buildings and attacked politicians.
The Nepali Army, which assumed command of nationwide security operations at 10 pm on Tuesday, imposed restrictions in several areas across the country, including Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur cities, to contain the unrest that continued even hours after K P Sharma Oli stepped down as Prime Minister on Tuesday.
The restrictive orders are in effect throughout the country from morning to 5 pm, and then a curfew will be in place until 6 am on Thursday, the army said in a statement. The measures were necessitated to curb possible incidents of looting, arson, and other destructive activities "under the guise of agitation", it said.
The army warned that any form of demonstrations, vandalism, arson, or attacks on individuals and property during the restrictive period would be treated as criminal acts and dealt with accordingly. "There are also possible threats of rape and violent attacks against individuals," the statement said.
"Keeping in view the security situation of the country, restrictive orders and a curfew have been enforced," it said.
Return Looted Guns: Army To People
The army also urged people to return guns, weapons and bullets looted or found during the student-led agitation to the nearest police post or security personnel.
"As there are chances of such weapons being misused, please inform the authorities and return them to the security agencies at the earliest,” the military said in another statement. It warned that legal action would be taken against anyone found possessing such arms or ammunition without returning them.
The army also appealed to citizens "not to wear army uniforms in this sensitive period, as it is illegal to do so".
The army expressed concern over the actions of certain groups, which are "taking undue advantage of the difficult situation" and causing “severe damage to ordinary citizens and public property.” "We have deployed our troops to prevent any untoward incidents, including looting and vandalism,” said an officer from the Nepal Army headquarters.
Authorities have also issued orders for residents to remain indoors unless "absolutely necessary", in a bid to prevent further unrest, he said.
27 Arrested For Loot, Arson And Vandalism
Security personnel arrested 27 people involved in looting, arson and vandalism from different parts of Kathmandu, officials said. During the operations, Rs 3.37 lakh in cash, along with 31 weapons, magazines and bullets, were recovered from individuals in Chabahil, Bauddha and Gaushala areas of Kathmandu.
Prime Minister Oli quit on Tuesday shortly after hundreds of agitators entered his office demanding his resignation for the death of at least 19 people in police action during Monday's protests over corruption and a social media ban. The ban on social media was lifted Monday night. However, the demonstrations continued even after his resignation.
Protesters set fire to the Parliament, the President's Office, the PM's residence, government buildings, political parties' offices and homes of senior leaders.
Some Sense Of Control
Soldiers with weapons guarding the main areas of Kathmandu appeared to give some sense of control, returning to the city that was overtaken by violence and chaos in previous days. Since early morning, the normally bustling streets of Kathmandu wore a deserted look. Only a few residents ventured out, primarily to stock up on daily essentials.
Roads were heavily patrolled by security personnel and fire trucks were seen responding to blazes in government and private buildings that were set on fire by agitators on Tuesday.
Anger Over Social Media Ban Was Just The Beginning
On Monday, demonstrations led by young people angry about the blocking of several social media sites gripped the capital, and police opened fire on the crowds, killing 19 people. The social media ban was lifted Tuesday, but the protests continued, fueled by rage over the deaths and accusations of political corruption.
President Ram Chandra Poudel, the ceremonial head of state, appealed to the protesters to pursue a peaceful resolution and stop further escalation. He accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli and appointed Oli to lead a caretaker government until a new one is in place — though it was unclear what power he would wield or even where he was.
The demonstrations — called the protest of Gen Z — began after the government blocked social media platforms, including Facebook, X and YouTube, saying the companies had failed to register and submit to government oversight.
But the protests spiraled to reflect broader discontent. In particular, many young people are angry that the children of political leaders — so-called nepo kids — seem to enjoy luxury lifestyles and numerous advantages while most youth struggle to find work. With youth unemployment running at about 20% last year, according to the World Bank, the government estimates that more than 2,000 young people leave the country every day to seek work in the Middle East or Southeast Asia.
Political Leaders, Buildings And Homes Were Targeted
Videos shared on social media showed protesters beating up Nepali Congress party leader Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife, Arzu Rana Deuba, the current foreign minister. Both appeared to be bleeding, while one video showed the party leader being helped to safety. The party is the country’s largest and is part of the governing coalition.
Smoke was still coming out of the parliament building, presidential house, the central secretariat that has the offices of the prime minister and key ministries, and the prime minister’s official residence Wednesday. The building of Kantipur publication, the biggest media outlet in Nepal, was torched and damaged. Car showrooms were also torched. Burned-out vehicles dotted the streets.
Protesters had attacked government buildings and the residences of the top political leaders throughout Tuesday, blaming the government for the police opening fire on the protesters. In addition to the 19 fatalities, scores of people were wounded. Oli has ordered an investigation report on the shootings and promised compensation to the families.
Government Seeking To Regulate Social Media
The violence unfolded as Nepal's government pursues a broader attempt to regulate social media with a bill aimed at ensuring the platforms are “properly managed, responsible and accountable.” The proposal has been widely criticized as a tool for censorship and for punishing government opponents who voice their protests online.
The bill would require companies to appoint a liaison office or a point of contact in the country. Rights groups have called it an attempt by the government to curb freedom of expression and fundamental rights.
The registration requirement applied to about two dozen social networks widely used in Nepal. Those that didn't comply were blocked last week, though TikTok, Viber and three other platforms that registered were operating without interruption. (With AP inputs)
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