Nepal’s Bara district was gripped by fresh unrest as Gen-Z activists and cadres of former prime minister KP Sharma Oli’s CPN-UML confronted each other for the second day in a row, prompting authorities to reimpose a curfew in a bid to contain the spiraling violence. The latest clashes, which left at least 10 injured, have reignited fears of a deepening political rift between young protesters and the opposition party leadership.
What sparked the renewed violence in the Bára district?
Tension flared in Simara Chowk on Thursday after Gen-Z protesters returned to the streets, alleging that the police had failed to arrest those named in their complaint over the previous day’s clashes. According to The Kathmandu Post, crowds started gathering from 11:00 am, well before the Bara district administration imposed a curfew from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm to prevent further escalation.
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However, the restraining order quickly fell apart. As Khabarhub reported: “However, the curfew did not take effect and the protesters took to the streets and clashed with the police. After the protesters defied the curfew and continued to advance, the authorities fired six tear gas canisters and two aerial shots.”
Protesters threw stones at security forces and injured six policemen, while four Gen-Z activists were also injured, the news site added.
Why are Gen-Z protesters facing CPN-UML cadres?
The confrontation stems from anger over perceived mishandling of earlier complaints and simmering animosity between Gen-Z activists and CPN-UML members. The initial clashes erupted on Wednesday when news spread that CPN-UML general secretary Shankar Pokharel and youth leader Mahesh Basnet had flown from Kathmandu to Simara to address an anti-government rally.
Gen-Z protesters rushed to the airport to oppose their arrival, leading to a violent confrontation with UML cadres. Authorities quickly imposed a curfew around the airport area, and UML leaders subsequently called off the rally.
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On Thursday, protesters escalated their reaction by torching a police post at Simara Bazaar. According to Khabarhub, “items from the UML office were also removed and set on fire by the protesters, accusing the police of hesitating to arrest UML cadres involved in earlier clashes.”
Police later arrested two UML ward presidents — Dhan Bahadur Shrestha of Ward No. 2 Jeetpursimar and Kaimoddin Ansari of Ward No. 6 — on charges of assaulting Gen-Z youth during Wednesday’s violence.
Why is Nepal experiencing a resurgence in Gen-Z activism?
Oli’s CPN-UML is holding nationwide demonstrations demanding the restoration of the House of Representatives, dissolved on September 12 after the Gen-Z movement toppled Oli’s government. Oli resigned on September 9 following mass youth protests accusing his administration of corruption and attempting to enforce a controversial social media ban.
The latest demonstrations reflect renewed anger over what Gen-Z activists say was indiscriminate killing during the September uprising. They continue to demand accountability for alleged excessive force used by security forces during earlier protests.
What does Human Rights Watch say about the September uprising in Nepal?
The new scrutiny comes after Human Rights Watch (HRW) released new findings on Thursday that say Nepali security forces used excessive and indiscriminate violence during protests in September.
According to HRW, “The interim government led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, who took over after the prime minister was forced to resign due to protests, should investigate the excessive use of force as well as the arson and mob attacks on individuals and buildings the following day, September 9, including those who may have ordered any illegal acts.”
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The group “found that police fired indiscriminately at protesters multiple times over a three-hour period, killing 17 people in Kathmandu, who were demonstrating against corruption in politics and a sweeping ban on social media that had been imposed four days earlier at a ‘Gen Z’ protest in the capital, Kathmandu, on September 8.”
The report further criticized security forces for inaction when mobs torched government buildings and targeted politicians, journalists, schools and businesses on September 9.
HRW’s findings are based on 52 interviews with witnesses, victims, journalists, health professionals, politicians and sources close to the security forces. Researchers also reviewed authenticated videos, photographs, and visited hospitals and sites of arson and protests.
