Kathmandu [Nepal], September 9: At least 19 people have been killed and dozens injured during violent protests against the government's social media ban and alleged corruption in Nepal, according to authorities and local media, as police fired live rounds at young protesters and used tear gas and rubber bullets on them.
On Monday, some protesters forced their way into the Parliament complex in the capital, Kathmandu, by breaking through a barricade, a local official said.
One protester told the ANI news agency that the police had been firing "indiscriminately". "[They] fired bullets which missed me but hit a friend who was standing behind me. He was hit in the hand," the protester said.
Seven people died at the National Trauma Centre, chief medical superintendent Dr Badri Rijal told The Associated Press news agency.
"Many of them are in serious condition and appear to have been shot in the head and chest," Rijal said.
Families waited anxiously outside for news of their relatives while people gathered to donate blood. Police officer Shekhar Khanal told Reuters that more than 100 people, including 28 police personnel, were receiving medical treatment for their injuries. Two people were killed when protests in the eastern city of Itahari turned violent, police said.
The United Nations has called for accountability following the bloodshed. "We are shocked by the killings and injury of protesters in Nepal today and urge a prompt and transparent investigation," UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said in a statement.
Thousands of young people, including students in their school and college uniforms, joined the protest, holding signs that read "Shut down corruption and not social media", "Unban social media", and "Youths against corruption", as they marched through Kathmandu. Last week, the government decided to block access to several social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube and X, fuelling anger among young Nepalis.
According to officials, the decision was taken because platforms had failed to register with authorities in a crackdown on misuse, including fake social media accounts used to spread hate speech and fake news and commit fraud.
Source: Qatar Tribune
