Deadly Crackdown in Kathmandu: Police Fire on Social Media Ban Protesters, 14 Killed

Kathmandu, Nepal is reeling from a violent crackdown as police opened fire on tens of thousands of protesters demonstrating against the government’s ban on social media platforms yesterday, September 8, 2025. At least 14 people have been confirmed dead and dozens more wounded, according to state TV and local hospital reports.

The clashes intensified outside the Nepalese Parliament building as protesters, largely from ‘Gen Z’ and angered by what they view as censorship, pushed through barbed wire barriers and forced riot police to retreat. Despite initial attempts to disperse the crowd with tear gas and water cannons, police ultimately resorted to live fire as they were reportedly outnumbered and sought refuge inside the parliament complex.

The government’s communications minister, Prithvi Subba, stated that police were ‘compelled to use force’ after demonstrators breached restricted areas. Police spokesperson Shekhar Khanal reiterated that tear gas and water cannons were deployed before the escalation. The situation remains tense, with authorities imposing a curfew around the parliament and other key government areas in Kathmandu.

Protesters chanted slogans like “Stop the ban on social media, stop corruption not social media,” waving national flags. The demonstration was sparked by the government’s decision to block most major social media platforms, including Facebook, X, and YouTube, last week. Authorities claim these platforms failed to register and submit to government oversight, while critics, including human rights groups, decry the move as an attempt to curb freedom of expression and silence opposition.

This escalating conflict comes as Nepal’s parliament debates a controversial bill aimed at ‘properly managing’ social platforms, requiring them to appoint local liaison offices. Opponents fear the legislation is a tool for censorship, building on a previous ban of TikTok in 2023, which was later lifted after the company pledged compliance with local laws.

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