Anti-government protests in Nepal have spiraled into extreme violence. In Kathmandu and other regions, angry crowds attacked the homes of several ministers, former prime ministers, and senior government leaders. Even the official residences of the President and the Prime Minister came under assault with arson and vandalism.
Throughout Tuesday, many ministers and their families were trapped inside their residences. In dramatic scenes, the army lowered rescue ropes from helicopters to evacuate them. Viral videos show ministers and their family members clinging to ropes and being lifted into helicopters. They were later dropped safely onto the rooftop of a Kathmandu hotel, while thick black smoke rose over the capital.
The unrest began after the government imposed a ban on social media. Led by the Gen-Z youth, the protests quickly escalated into violence. Protesters set fire to government and private buildings, looted property, and clashed with authorities. Amid the chaos, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli was forced to resign. The army has since imposed a strict curfew and launched patrols across the capital, urging residents not to leave their homes unless absolutely necessary.
Ministers were the prime targets of the demonstrators. The house of Information and Technology Minister Prithi Subba Gurung was set on fire, Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel’s residence was heavily vandalized, while homes of former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and state-owned bank governor Bishwo Paudel were also attacked. One viral video shows Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel being chased and beaten by protesters, while another captures Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba and her husband, former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, being assaulted. A bloodied Sher Bahadur Deuba was seen sitting helplessly in a field before being rescued by the army.
Currently, the Nepalese army is maintaining strict control across the capital with ongoing patrols. The unrest has raised deep concerns among both the public and the international community about where the crisis is heading. In the meantime, discussions are underway about forming an interim government, with former Chief Justice Sushila Karki’s name surfacing as a possible leader.
Source: NDTV