Tragic Toll of Anti-Corruption Protests in Nepal: Families Demand Justice

Everyone said rubber bullet, rubber bullet. It was not a rubber bullet. If you see my son, his head was broken, a hole is there. These haunting words belong to Narendra Shrestha, whose son Sulov was shot during violent protests that swept through Nepal last week. As families mourn those killed, the nation grapples with the implications of these events.

The protests erupted in response to a government ban on social media, an inaction that ignited pre-existing tensions over widespread corruption. By the time the ban was revoked on September 8, the protests had escalated into a major movement, resulting in destruction and chaos.

More than 70 people have been reported dead, with families sharing stories of young victims whose lives were ended prematurely. Among them, a promising student, a budding judge, and a hotel worker—all caught in the crossfire of government action.

As citizens demand accountability, each grieving family finds itself at the gates of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital's mortuary, desperately hoping for clarity among the chaos and confusion.

Eyewitness accounts and reports suggest that police forces were responsible for opening fire on unarmed protesters, contradicting initial assertions that rubber bullets were employed. Many victims sustained grave injuries from live ammunition, raising concerns about police tactics during civil unrest.

Affected families have vowed to seek justice. As interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki embarks on a difficult term, primary objectives include bringing those responsible for the violence to justice and addressing the nationwide call for pivotal governmental reform.

With a fresh election scheduled for March 2026, Karki's administration will be tested not just on policy, but on their ability to reassure the public that their voices will be heard, and that those who lost their lives will not be forgotten.