• Source:JND
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Nepal plunged deeper into chaos as Rajyalaxmi Chitrakar, the wife of former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal, tragically died after protestors set her home ablaze during ongoing nationwide demonstrations. The unprecedented violence, sparked by a government-imposed social media ban, has so far claimed at least 19 lives, while leaving hundreds injured and causing extensive property damage.

Chitrakar, who was inside her residence in Dallu, Kathmandu, suffered severe burn injuries after protestors reportedly trapped her and set the house on fire. She was rushed to Kirtipur Burn Hospital in critical condition but, despite intensive treatment, succumbed to her injuries, according to family sources quoted by Khabarhub.

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Nepal's Parliament Set On Fire

The unrest, largely driven by Gen Z protesters, has targeted some of the most prominent political figures and government institutions in Nepal. The demonstrators set fire to Nepal’s parliament and the house of four-time Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, ultimately forcing his resignation. Residences of former Prime Ministers Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda), Sher Bahadur Deuba, and Jhalanath Khanal were also attacked, along with offices of major political parties.

The protests escalated dramatically as mobs torched government buildings and high-profile residences, including the Singh Durbar, the official seat of the Nepali government, and Sheetal Niwas, the presidential residence. President Ram Chandra Paudel’s private home was also set ablaze, highlighting the intensifying scale and severity of the violence.

Eyewitnesses reported scenes of chaos throughout Kathmandu, with protestors marching through the streets, chanting slogans, and setting fire to vehicles and property. The widespread unrest has left the nation’s security forces struggling to contain the situation, and multiple curfews have been imposed in an attempt to restore order.

The protests originated after the government temporarily blocked 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and X. The decision sparked outrage among Nepal’s youth, particularly Gen Z, who mobilised quickly online to organise demonstrations, demanding greater freedoms, government accountability, and transparency.

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While initially intended as a response to regulate online platforms, the ban has ignited the most violent and widespread youth-led protests Nepal has seen in years. The tragic death of Rajyalaxmi Chitrakar underscores the escalating human cost of the unrest, as ordinary citizens and political figures alike find themselves in the crossfire of a nation gripped by unprecedented turmoil.