Nepal's army deployed patrols across Kathmandu on Wednesday after days of anti-corruption demonstrations descended into arson and violent clashes that left the Himalayan nation reeling and prompted the prime minister to resign.
The unrest, the worst the country has seen in decades, erupted after the government briefly moved to ban 26 social media platforms and accelerated a wider campaign of public anger over alleged corruption and nepotism. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday in a letter to the president, saying his departure was intended to "facilitate the solution to the problem and to help resolve it politically in accordance with the constitution." Nationwide curfews are in place until Thursday morning, the army said, and personnel have warned of punishment for anyone involved in violence or vandalism.
Authorities said at least 20 people have been killed in clashes with police and that on Tuesday alone protesters broke into and torched the country's parliament building, set fire to the Singha Durbar government complex and vandalised other state institutions. The Supreme Court announced that all hearings were postponed indefinitely after courtrooms, servers and case files were damaged by fire.
The military said it had arrested 27 people in connection with violence and looting and recovered 31 firearms as it moved to control what it described as a volatile situation. "We are mainly in the process of controlling elements who are taking advantage of the situation to loot, set fires and cause various incidents," military spokesman Rajaram Basnet said.
Organisers of the protests — young people who have described themselves as Nepal's "Generation Z" — condemned the attacks and said their movement had been "hijacked by opportunist infiltrators." In a statement issued by youth activists, they said the initial demonstrations were "non-violent and rooted in the principles of peaceful civic engagement" and insisted volunteers were on the ground trying to "responsibly manage" the situation and protect public property. The statement said no further protests were scheduled from Wednesday and called on security forces to enforce curfews as necessary.
The demonstrations were fuelled in part by a social-media-led "nepo kid" campaign that spotlighted allegations of corruption and the lavish lifestyles of politicians' relatives. The government's attempt to ban major apps, including WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook, was lifted on Monday, but by then protests had already escalated and widened into direct attacks on symbols of the political establishment.
Video and news reports showed large crowds smashing windows, spray-painting anti-corruption slogans and setting fire to official buildings. The headquarters of the Nepali Congress party and the private residence of its leader, Sher Bahadur Deuba, a former prime minister, were among locations targeted by protesters. Vehicles lay charred on roads in Kathmandu on Wednesday, and smoke continued to rise from several sites.
Political leaders and analysts warned the immediate future was uncertain. Oli's resignation removed the sitting head of government but did not resolve who would form a new administration or how stability would be restored. Youth organisers said they wanted leadership "free from entrenched political party affiliations, fully independent, and selected on the basis of competence, integrity, and qualifications," and demanded a transparent government that serves public interests rather than elite beneficiaries.
Officials said security forces had been stretched by the scale and intensity of the unrest. Human rights groups and international observers have previously expressed concern over the use of force by Nepali security services during demonstrations, and the deaths in recent clashes have prompted calls for independent investigations. The government has not yet released a full account of the circumstances surrounding the fatalities.
As authorities imposed curfews and the military moved to secure key sites, many residents of the capital reported a tense calm on Wednesday, with markets and businesses closed and transport disrupted. The Gen Z organisers urged restraint and said their demand for accountability remained firm: a functioning, incorruptible administration led by qualified, non-corrupt individuals.
It remained unclear how long the curfews and military patrols would continue or what political arrangements would follow Oli's resignation. Authorities said they were working to restore order and protect public property, while youth organisers and opposition figures pressed for systemic changes. International governments and organisations were monitoring events and urging restraint from all sides as Nepal faced a critical juncture in its recent political history.