Nepal Army Restores Order After Protests Kill 19, PM Resigns

Violent protests in Nepal over a social media ban and government corruption led to widespread unrest, including the torching of government buildings and attacks on politicians, resulting in at least 19 deaths. The Nepali Army took control of nationwide security operations to restore order, enforcing curfews and arresting suspected looters while patrolling key areas of Kathmandu. Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli resigned amidst mounting criticism, but unrest continued as tens of thousands of demonstrators demanded reforms, particularly driven by a youth-led Gen Z movement. The government’s lifting of the social media ban failed to quell anger over political corruption and police violence. The army’s deployment marked a rare intervention due to police ineffectiveness, with President Ram Chandra Poudel calling for peaceful resolution while appointing Oli as caretaker leader with uncertain authority. The crisis has caused severe disruption, including the closure of Tribhuvan International Airport and the death of a former prime minister’s wife in an arson attack, underscoring the severity of the instability.