In a troubling escalation of tensions in Nepal, recent protests advocating for the restoration of the monarchy have turned deadly, with at least two individuals confirmed dead and multiple injuries reported.
Protests in Nepal Demand Monarchy Restoration, Resulting in Violence
Protests in Nepal Demand Monarchy Restoration, Resulting in Violence
Violent clashes during pro-monarchical protests in Nepal lead to fatalities and injuries among demonstrators and police.
On Friday, March 28, 2025, in the capital city of Kathmandu, followers of Gyanendra Shah, the last king who ruled before the monarchy was abolished in 2008, engaged in confrontations with law enforcement. Protesters are rallying for a return to a constitutional monarchy that acknowledges Nepal as a parliamentary democracy rooted in Hindu values, emphasizing their dissatisfaction with the current secular government.
According to police spokesperson Dinesh Kumar Acharya, the fatalities comprised one protester who succumbed to gunshot wounds and a television journalist who was caught in a fire set by demonstrators during the unrest. The clashes left at least 30 civilians and 40 police officers injured.
In response to the escalating violence, the Nepali government has imposed a curfew across significant sections of Kathmandu and called in the military to maintain order. This surge in pro-monarchist demonstrations follows months of mounting frustration directed toward politically established parties, particularly the administration of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, which many protesters accuse of rampant corruption and inability to resolve issues of poverty and lack of political stability.
According to police spokesperson Dinesh Kumar Acharya, the fatalities comprised one protester who succumbed to gunshot wounds and a television journalist who was caught in a fire set by demonstrators during the unrest. The clashes left at least 30 civilians and 40 police officers injured.
In response to the escalating violence, the Nepali government has imposed a curfew across significant sections of Kathmandu and called in the military to maintain order. This surge in pro-monarchist demonstrations follows months of mounting frustration directed toward politically established parties, particularly the administration of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, which many protesters accuse of rampant corruption and inability to resolve issues of poverty and lack of political stability.
