• Source:JND
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Nepal Gen Z Protest:  Nepal is reeling under unprecedented violence and political turmoil after days of protests led by angry youth spiralled into full-scale clashes, forcing Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign and flee the country. The unrest erupted earlier this week after the government abruptly imposed a short-lived ban on social media platforms, including Facebook, X, and YouTube.

Army Takes Control Of Kathmandu Streets

Soldiers patrolled Kathmandu on Thursday, ordering residents to stay indoors as armoured vehicles rolled through the capital. The military was deployed after mobs vandalised homes of senior leaders, torched government buildings, and stormed Parliament. Army helicopters were seen rescuing ministers and their family members from rooftops in visuals that have gone viral on social media.

Army helicopters flew low over the city, ferrying senior leaders and their families out of besieged neighbourhoods. In one widely shared protest video, ministers and their family members were seen clinging to a rescue sling of an army helicopter. Another clip showed Sher Bahadur Deuba bleeding from his face and sitting helplessly in a field before being evacuated by security personnel.

Ministers Targeted, Parliament Building Torched

On Tuesday, tens of thousands of demonstrators, mostly young protesters dubbed the “Gen Z revolution,” set the Parliament building ablaze and attacked the residences of top officials. The house of Communication and Information Technology Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung was burnt, while stones were hurled at the homes of Deputy Prime Minister Bishnu Paudel and Nepal Rastra Bank Governor Biswo Paudel. Former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak’s residence also came under attack. Shocking videos circulating online showed Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel being chased down a street and physically assaulted. Another clip showed Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba and her husband, former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, being beaten by protesters inside their Kathmandu home.

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The protests started after the government blocked popular social media sites, accusing the sites of not registering with the authorities and adhering to rules and regulations. The initial calls for protesting against censorship soon turned into calls for a broader movement against corruption, unemployment, and nepotism. The huge youth protests compelled Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to step down, leading to violence, arson, and widespread disturbances across the nation. The Gen Z-led movement, sparked initially by a government ban on social media, has ballooned into a countrywide revolution against corruption, political deadlock, and supposed indifference by the ruling elite.

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As the crisis deepens, the images of burning Parliament, bleeding ministers, and army helicopters rescuing top officials have become defining symbols of Nepal’s political turmoil.