The BRICS TimesProtesters earlier torched homes of several top Nepal leaders, including ex-PM KP Sharma Oli’s Bhaktapur residence.
Minutes before Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli stepped down, chaos erupted in Nepal’s capital as Gen Z protesters stormed Parliament and set one of the buildings ablaze.
The unrest escalated after demonstrators torched Oli’s Balkot residence in Bhaktapur along with homes of other senior leaders. The protests began following a now-revoked ban on social media, sparking anger nationwide.
Dramatic visuals captured thousands of protesters flooding Parliament as huge plumes of grey and black smoke filled the sky. Even while flames raged, crowds kept marching forward, waving flags and chanting slogans.
Protesters forced their way into the Singha Durbar premises through its western gate, which they reportedly set on fire. The historic complex serves as Nepal’s central administrative hub.
Chants of “KP Chor, Desh Chhod” and “Take Action Against Corrupt Leaders” echoed across Kathmandu as the movement gathered strength.
The home of former minister Ramesh Lekhak was also set on fire in Naikap, a day after he resigned over the police’s violent crackdown on the youth-led protests. Authorities had banned 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and WhatsApp, sparking the anger of Gen Z.
So far, the violent protests have left 19 people dead and more than 300 injured. Officials confirmed Oli’s resignation came amid mounting pressure, shortly after demonstrators stormed his office.
Security concerns also grounded all flights at Tribhuvan International Airport for the day. “Airport is not closed,” insisted general manager Hansa Raj Pandey, but confirmed operations were halted temporarily.
What triggered the Nepal protests?
The protests were sparked by the government’s sweeping ban on 26 social media platforms. Although the ban was revoked late Monday after violent clashes, the agitation has continued over the deaths of protesters. A curfew was imposed in several parts of Kathmandu after Monday’s bloodshed.
On Tuesday, protesters also vandalised the central office of the Nepali Congress in Sanepa.
India-Nepal border on high alert
With violence intensifying, security at the India-Nepal border in West Bengal’s Panitanki has been tightened. Darjeeling SP Praveen Parkash told ANI, “A police post has been set up here at the round-up with deployment of force. We are in alert mode and monitoring the situation with the help of security agencies and the Nepal police. There’s no information about anyone being stuck. The police have heightened patrolling at the border area.”
