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Nepal’s government lifted its ban on social media platforms Tuesday a day after police killed opened fire on mass street protests against the ban, killing 19 people, Associated Press reported.

The district administration ordered an indefinite curfew in the capital and schools were closed. A curfew was also imposed in two other cities.

Several widely used social networks, including Facebook, X and YouTube were blocked in the Himalayan nation last week after failing to comply with a new requirement to register and submit to government oversight.

Rallies against the ban swelled to tens of thousands of people in Kathmandu and crowds surrounded the Parliament building before police opened fire on the demonstrators, according to Associated Press.

“Stop the ban on social media. Stop corruption, not social media,” the crowds chanted, waving national flags. Monday’s rally was called the protest of Gen Z, which generally refers to people born between 1995 and 2010.

Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Ramnath Adhikari has resigned from his post on Tuesday.

Adhikari announced his resignation from the ministerial post, writing on social media on Tuesday.

“I cannot stay in the power following the deaths of 19 people in the Gen Z protests. Hence, I am resigning from the ministerial post,” he said.

Authorities have clamped curfews in different areas of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts on Tuesday.

The Kathmandu District Administration has imposed an indefinite curfew.

The curfew, which was previously imposed in various parts of Kathmandu until 5 am on Tuesday, has been extended from 8:30 am on Tuesday until further notice.

Chief District Officer of Kathmandu Chhabilal Rijal has issued a curfew order prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving the designated restricted areas within Kathmandu Metropolitan City and from holding any kind of gathering, procession, demonstration, assembly and meeting.

The Kathmandu District Administration has imposed a curfew in the entire area inside ring road from Balkumari Bridge to Koteshwor Chowk, Sinamangal, Gaushala, Chabahil, Narayan Gopal Chowk, Gongabu, Balaju, Swayambhu, Kalanki, Balkhu and Bagmati River Bridge.

Similarly, the Lalitpur District Administration Office has clamped a curfew in some areas of Lalitpur Metropolitan City.

Chief District Officer Suman Ghimire has issued a curfew order from 7 am to 12 midnight today in accordance with Section 6 (a) of the Local Administration Act, 2028.

The District Administration Office has imposed a curfew in various places of wards 2, 4, 9, 18 and 25, including Bhaisepati, Sanepa and Chyasal.

Likewise, the Bhaktapur District Administration Office has imposed an indefinite curfew in Bhaktapur.

Chief District Officer of Bhaktapur Nawaraj Ghimire has issued a curfew order prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving the designated restricted areas within four municipalities of Bhaktapur and prohibiting any kind of gathering, procession, demonstration, assembly and meeting.

The administration has designated various places in Madhyapur Thimi Municipality, Bhaktapur Municipality, Suryabinayak Municipality, and Changunarayan Municipality as restricted areas.

The UN Human Rights Office has expressed shock over the killing and injury of protesters in Nepal, urging a prompt and transparent investigation.

Spokesperson of the UN rights body Ravina Shamdasani said the office had received troubling reports of excessive force by security forces against youth-led demonstrations opposing corruption and the government’s recent social media ban, issuing a statement from Geneva on Monday.
 

The UN called on authorities to uphold the rights to peaceful assembly and free expression, stressing that security forces must follow international standards on the use of force. It also urged the government to reconsider restrictions on social media to ensure compliance with Nepal’s human rights obligations, emphasizing that dialogue is the best way to address young people’s concerns in a democratic society.