Student Protests in Nepal Turn Deadly ^{CEFR B2}

Nepal’s recent student protests echo a long cycle of political change and disappointment. The Rana dynasty’s rule from 1848 kept power closed, and in 1951 King Tribhuvan ended Rana rule. King Mahendra then dissolved parliament and set up the Panchayat autocracy for about 30 years. Popular unrest returned in 1990 (Jana Andolan I) and multiparty democracy was restored, but the 1990s brought frequent government changes and, from 1996, a Maoist insurgency that caused more than 17,000 deaths by the early 2000s. A 2001 royal massacre and later political crises led to the 2006 protests and the end of the monarchy in 2008. A constitution adopted in 2015 created seven provinces and new rights, yet many communities still felt excluded.

By 2024 economic strain, high youth unemployment and political stagnation increased public frustration. New rules restricting online platforms prompted students to organise quickly using encrypted apps. In early September 2025 demonstrations spread to Kathmandu, Pokhara and Lalitpur. Police used tear gas and live rounds; in Kathmandu at least 19 people were killed after police fired into crowds. Hospitals treated many students, the government imposed a curfew, shut mobile networks and deployed the army. The Home Minister resigned and the cabinet reversed the social media ban. Mobs attacked government buildings and politicians’ homes; former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife Arzu Rana Deuba were rescued by the army after protesters stormed their residence.

President Ram Chandra Poudel appointed former Supreme Court justice Sushila Karki, 73, as interim prime minister. Endorsed by youth representatives, her caretaker government pledged to investigate the killings, restore order and hold elections in March 2026. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International called for independent inquiries. The military said it acted to protect order and noted many involved were minors. Karki said, “Change must come through institutions, not fire,” and added that young Nepalis were “right to demand dignity and opportunity.” Students continue vigils and public pressure, but whether the protests will lead to lasting reform or repeat past cycles of hope and stagnation remains uncertain.