Army takes control of Kathmandu after deadly protest grip valley

KATHMANDU: Soldiers fanned out across the streets of Nepal’s capital on Wednesday as authorities enforced an indefinite curfew following two days of deadly anti-corruption protests that culminated in the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli.

The unrest, described as the worst in decades for the Himalayan nation, erupted after the government introduced a ban on social media last week. Although the ban was quickly reversed, violence spiraled when police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at demonstrators on Monday, leaving 19 people dead.

The crisis escalated sharply when protesters set fire to the home of former PM Oli while his wife, Rajyalaxmi Chitrakar, was trapped inside the residence in Kathmandu’s Dallu area and sustained severe burns. She was rushed to hospital but later succumbed to her injuries. Her death further inflamed public anger, fuelling demands for accountability and sweeping reforms across government institutions.

“We are trying to normalise the situation first,” army spokesman Raja Ram Basnet said, adding that security forces remained committed to safeguarding lives and property.

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By Wednesday morning, Kathmandu was largely quiet. Residents reported empty streets patrolled by soldiers, though local media said police had detained around 25 people on the outskirts of the city for allegedly attempting to stir unrest. Reuters could not independently verify those reports.

The protests reached a peak on Tuesday, when crowds torched several government buildings, including the Supreme Court, Parliament, and homes of cabinet ministers. Oli’s private residence was also set ablaze before the turmoil subsided in the wake of his resignation.

“There are no protesters here. Only a few people are walking in the street. It is peaceful,” said Ram Kumar Shrestha, a resident of Maharajgunj, a neighbourhood in the capital.

Media reports suggested that preliminary steps were underway to organise talks between authorities and protest leaders, though details remain unclear.

The protests were driven largely by young Nepalis angry over what they see as entrenched corruption and a lack of opportunities. Chronic unemployment has forced millions to migrate abroad for low-paying jobs in Malaysia, the Middle East, and South Korea, with remittances remaining a key lifeline for the economy.

Wedged between India and China, Nepal has endured prolonged political and economic instability since a popular uprising ended its monarchy in 2008. Successive governments have struggled to deliver stability, leaving frustration to build among younger generations.

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The turmoil has drawn close attention from neighbouring India. New Delhi’s security cabinet met on Tuesday to review the crisis, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed for calm.

“Nepal’s stability, peace, and prosperity are of utmost importance,” Modi said in a post on X. “I humbly appeal to all my brothers and sisters in Nepal to maintain peace and order.”