A tragic chain of events unfolded today in the New Baneshwar area of Kathmandu, when police opened fire on demonstrators, killing at least 24 protestors, some of them students and children. The incident has sparked nationwide outrage and calls for the government’s immediate accountability.
The nonviolent demonstration for justice and reforms took a violent turn, witnesses explained, after security forces, reportedly on the explicit orders of the Chief District Officer (CDO), used lethal force against unarmed demonstrators. The violent suppression of the protest left dozens of others injured, many of them critically.
The fatal shootings have outraged people. Protestors and civil society organizations now demand the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Home Minister Balkrishna Khand (Lekhant), holding them responsible for the violence.
Human rights activists have already condemned the killings as a blatant assault on democratic values and the right to peaceful assembly. International organizations will also respond once the news spreads across the globe.
As tensions still simmer, thousands of citizens are on the streets of Kathmandu and other urban centers, chanting anti-government slogans and vowing to hold protests until justice is served.
The event has been compared to Nepal’s violent past, with citizens fearing a return to authoritarian repression.