Nepal experienced its most deadly youth uprising in ages on Monday after the government blocked as many as 26 social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube and X on September 4. The police opened fire on demonstrators in Kathmandu, killing at least 20 and injuring more than 300 people.
Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned on moral grounds after the deadly clashes, while the army encircled roads to Parliament as tensions escalated. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, blamed the violence on an “infiltration from unnecessary elements,” although he defended that intent was not censorship, but rather “regulation.”
His government later took back the ban, with Communication Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung, announcing after an emergency Cabinet meeting that social media platforms would reopen.
Sudan Gurung Leading The Way
The protests in Nepal were led by 36-year-old Sudan Gurung, the president of Hami Nepal, a youth-run NGO that has shifted into a civic movement. In a previous post on Instagram, Gurung confirmed that his group had officially applied to conduct marches and encouraged students to wear their school uniforms and carry their books to transform legit protests into comforting symbols of peaceful resistance.
Before the blackout, Hami Nepal used social media for broadcasting protest routes and safety advice.
Who Is Sudan Gurung?
Grassroots leader: Gurung was president of Hami Nepal, a youth NGO established after the 2015 earthquake.
Personal tragedy: Gurung lost his child during the earthquake, and according to The Annapurna Express, this tragic life event changed the path of his life.
From party planner to activist: Gurung used to be an event programmer and shifted to devising disaster relief out of love for civic work.
Track record: Gurung previously led Dharans “Ghopa camp” protest to demand transparency at BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences.
Voice of Gen Z: Gurung has positioned himself as the organizer who channels the frustrations of the digital age into organized and peaceful action.
The Gen Z Protest
On Monday, thousands of young protesters, many of whom were school students, took to the streets of Kathmandu by staging a huge rally outside the Parliament and demanded the immediate lifting of the government ban on social media sites.
The protests turned violent when protesters breached the Parliament complex, and police used water cannons, tear gas and even live rounds to disperse crowds. The violence quickly escalated far beyond the capital with protests in Pokhara, Butwal, Bhairahawa, Bharatpur, Itahari, and Damak.
Hospitals around Kathmandu, including the Civil Hospital and the Trauma Centre were inundated with injured protesters. According to The Himalayan Times, several facilities began referring patients to other hospitals.
Authorities issued curfew orders in parts of Kathmandu and Lalitpur, and in Pokhara, Butwal, and Itahari in Sunsarai district.
Adding to the momentum, a viral campaign called “Nepo Kid” gained traction online and spilled onto the streets. The movement, driven by young Nepalis, has accused the children of politicians and the powerful elite of enjoying privileges funded by corruption.
