Ex-PM’s Wife Killed as Nepal Protests Explode
Violent anti-government protests over social media ban leave 19 dead, homes of leaders torched, and Prime Minister Oli steps down.
- Rajyalaxmi Chitrakar, wife of ex-PM Jhalanath Khanal, dies after protesters set house on fire in Kathmandu.
- Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigns as protests escalate despite lifting of social media ban.
- Police firing kills 19 protesters; Finance Minister Paudel brutally assaulted on streets.
GG News Bureau
Kathmandu, 9th Sept: Nepal’s capital Kathmandu witnessed a violent escalation of unrest on Tuesday as protests led by Gen Z against a now-revoked social media ban turned into a broader anti-government uprising.
Rajyalaxmi Chitrakar, the wife of Nepal’s former prime minister Jhalanath Khanal, was killed after demonstrators trapped her inside their Dallu residence and set it ablaze. She was rushed to Kirtipur Burn Hospital but succumbed to injuries during treatment, family sources confirmed.
The same day, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned after his own residence was attacked and set on fire. His finance minister, Bishnu Prasad Paudel, 65, was filmed being brutally thrashed by protesters on the streets of the capital.
The protests, which began after the government blocked Facebook, X, YouTube and other platforms citing non-compliance with regulations, spiraled even after the ban was lifted on Monday night. Police opened fire on crowds, killing at least 19 people.
Enraged demonstrators torched the homes of senior leaders, the parliament building, and forced the closure of Kathmandu’s international airport. Army helicopters evacuated several ministers to safety.
The so-called “Protest of Gen Z” has drawn thousands of young Nepalese, many of whom accuse the political elite of corruption and nepotism. Anger has also been directed at the “Nepo Kids” — children of politicians accused of living in luxury while ordinary youth struggle with unemployment.
In response to the turmoil, India issued a travel advisory urging its citizens to defer travel to Nepal until stability returns. Air India, IndiGo, and Nepal Airlines cancelled flights between Delhi and Kathmandu on Tuesday.
