Nepal Police Open Fire on Protesters, Killing at Least 17 and Wounding 145

Protests erupted in Kathmandu as thousands of people gathered around the Parliament building to demonstrate against a government ban on social media, including Facebook, X, and YouTube. The government claimed that these companies had failed to register and submit to government oversight, but protesters argued that the move was an attempt to curb freedom of expression and violate fundamental rights. The situation turned violent as police opened fire, leaving 17 people dead and 145 wounded. Families waited anxiously outside for news of their relatives, while people lined up to donate blood.

Key Takeaways:

• At least 17 people were killed and 145 were wounded after police opened fire on protesters demonstrating against a government ban on social media.
• The protests were sparked by the government's decision to block Facebook, X, and YouTube, claiming that these companies had failed to register and submit to government oversight.
• Families of the victims waited anxiously outside for news of their relatives, while people lined up to donate blood.
• The National Trauma Center, the country's main hospital, received seven of the dead and scores of the wounded.
• Dr. Badri Risal, a physician, stated that many of the wounded "appear to have been shot in the head and chest."
• Protesters chanted slogans such as "Stop the ban on social media, stop corruption not social media" and waved the national flags.
• Monday's rally was called the "protest of Gen Z," referring to people born between 1995 and 2010.
• The government said that about two dozen social network platforms that are widely used in Nepal had been repeatedly given notices to register their companies officially in the country.
• Those which failed to register have been blocked since last week, while TikTok, Viber, and three other platforms have registered and operate without interruption.
• The government removed a ban on TikTok in 2023 and has been working with executives to comply with local laws.
• Rights groups have criticized the government's move as an attempt to curb freedom of expression and violate fundamental rights.

Statistics:

• At least 17 people were killed.
• 145 people were wounded.
• 28 police officers were among the wounded.
• 7 of the dead and scores of the wounded were received at the National Trauma Center.
• The National Trauma Center reported that many of the wounded "appear to have been shot in the head and chest."

Sources:

• AP (no date given)
• Rights groups (no specific date given)
• Nepal government (no specific date given)