Kathmandu, 8 Sep: With the Gen Z protest escalating, a curfew order was imposed and the army was deployed in the New Baneshwar area. Chief District Officer of Kathmandu, Chhabi Rijal, informed Ratopati that the army had already been mobilized in New Baneshwar.
As the Gen Z protest turned more aggressive, a curfew order was issued from 12:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Monday to bring the situation under control.
According to the notice issued by the District Administration Office, the curfew has been enforced from New Baneshwar Chowk to the west via Everest Hotel up to Bijuli Bazaar; from Baneshwar Chowk eastward through Min Bhawan and Shantinagar up to Tinkune Chowk; from Baneshwar northward via Iplex Mall up to Ratnarajya Secondary School; and from Baneshwar Chowk southward down to Shankhamul and across Shankhamul Bridge.
During the Gen Z protest, police extinguished fires set at two gates of the Parliament building in New Baneshwar, Kathmandu. Although protesters set fire at Gate No. 1 and Gate No. 2, the police immediately put out the flames.
The situation in the New Baneshwar area remains tense, with protesters chanting strong slogans against the government.
Air firing in New Baneshwar
In an attempt to quell the Gen Z protest in New Baneshwar, Kathmandu, on Monday, police fired into the air, used tear gas, and deployed water cannons. Police sources also confirmed baton charges.
The protest, held against social media restrictions as well as corruption and mismanagement, saw demonstrators entering restricted zones. Once inside, they attempted to break the walls of the Parliament building and engaged in vandalism.
Protesters’ stone pelting at the Parliament building
Gen Z, who took to the streets against corruption and the government’s ban on social media, are pelting stones at the Parliament building in New Baneshwar. Police are firing tear gas to disperse the protesters. Despite several rounds of tear gas shells, demonstrators have not retreated.
The District Administration Office has imposed a curfew in certain areas of Kathmandu from 12:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
According to the notice issued by the District Administration Office, the curfew has been enforced from New Baneshwar Chowk westward through Everest Hotel up to Bijuli Bazaar; from Baneshwar Chowk eastward through Min Bhawan and Shantinagar up to Tinkune Chowk; from Baneshwar northward via Iplex Mall up to Ratnarajya Secondary School; and from Baneshwar Chowk southward down to Shankhamul and across Shankhamul Bridge.
Home Minister and senior officials in an informal meeting
After the Kathmandu District Administration Office imposed a curfew from 12:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Monday to halt the Gen Z movement, senior officials at the Ministry of Home Affairs convened for discussions. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak joined the meeting at the ministry after leaving the State Affairs and Good Governance Committee session midway.
Home Minister Lekhak, Home Secretary Gokarna Mani Duwadi, Joint Secretary Anand Kafle, who heads the Security Coordination Division, along with other officials, are gathering information about the protest. Kafle, who also serves as the ministry’s spokesperson, said they were working together from one place to receive updates.
“We are all sitting in one place, collecting information about what is happening in the field,” spokesperson Kafle stated.
