Death and Violence
Rajyalaxmi Chitrakar, wife of former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal, died after being trapped inside her Kathmandu home and burned alive by protesters, marking one of the most harrowing incidents in Nepal’s ongoing anti-government uprising. Chitrakar suffered critical burns to her lungs and body before succumbing at Kirtipur Burn Hospital, becoming a tragic symbol of the fury directed at Nepal’s political elite. Her death occurred as protesters torched the residences of top leaders, including President Ram Chandra Paudel, PM KP Sharma Oli, and former premiers Prachanda and Sher Bahadur Deuba, alongside the Parliament building.
Gen Z Revolt
The protests, led by youth facing 20% unemployment and mass emigration for survival, erupted after the government banned 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, and YouTube under the pretext of cybersecurity. Despite the ban being lifted within days, demonstrations escalated into a broader movement against systemic corruption, nepotism, and the lavish lifestyles of “nepo kids” (politicians’ children) while ordinary citizens struggle. The movement, dubbed the “Gen Z protests,” reflects deep-seated anger over economic despair and political graft in a nation where 2,000 youth leave daily for foreign labor.
Security forces responded with live ammunition, rubber bullets, and tear gas, killing at least 22 protesters and injuring over 500 in some of Nepal’s deadliest unrest in decades. The Nepali Army was deployed in Kathmandu, enforcing curfews and forcing demonstrators to kneel with hands behind their heads. Hospitals overflowed with casualties, prompting urgent calls for blood donations, while Tribhuvan International Airport closed indefinitely due to smoke and security threats, stranding 700 Indian travelers and canceling flights. The chaos allowed 900 inmates to escape prisons, exacerbating the crisis.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned after protesters set fire to his home and stormed government complexes, acknowledging the “adverse situation” but failing to quell fury. President Paudel pleaded for dialogue, while the army urged youth to “safeguard national heritage”. India advised citizens to avoid travel, and the UN rights chief condemned the violence, but protesters dismissed appeals, continuing to demand systemic change. The Kantipur Media Group headquarters was burned, raising concerns about press freedom.
The uprising mirrors global youth-led movements against oppression, from Palestine to Sudan, emphasizing resistance to authoritarianism and economic injustice. Nepal’s Gen Z protesters, like those elsewhere, reject mere reform, demanding dismantling of corrupt systems. As smoke shrouds Kathmandu, the world watches a nation at a “major inflection point,” with its democratic future hanging in the balance.