Nepal is witnessing one of its most turbulent moments in recent history as Gen Z-led protests have escalated into violent confrontations with state authorities, targeting key political and institutional structures.

On September 9, demonstrators in Kathmandu set fire to the Parliament building and the President’s Office at Sheetal Niwas, marking a significant escalation in their campaign against entrenched political leadership, corruption, and authoritarian restrictions.

The protests follow the previous day’s deadly confrontation, where at least 19 students were killed and over 500 injured after security forces cracked down on demonstrators around the Federal Parliament and other parts of the capital. Despite official claims that police were instructed to show restraint and refrain from using live ammunition, eyewitness accounts and local reports indicated gunfire and several cases of bullet injuries, intensifying public outrage.

The protesters, overwhelmingly comprising young Nepalis from the Gen Z demographic, have been vocal about their demands for generational leadership change. Many accuse the current political class of presiding over systemic corruption, nepotism, and failures in governance. According to demonstrators, the movement is not merely a reaction to the government’s widely criticized social media ban but is rooted in frustration over decades of political stagnation, elite privilege, and the exclusion of youth voices from positions of power. "We want a youth leader.

We want change. This country belongs to Gen Z," one protester declared, encapsulating the movement's core demand for leadership by a younger generation. The slogan reflects disillusionment with traditional leaders, including President Ram Chandra Paudel and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, whose residences and party offices have become direct targets of the unrest.

The spread of protests has shaken the very foundations of Nepal’s political and legal institutions. Crowds have vandalised and torched government facilities including Singha Durbar, the Federal Parliament, the Supreme Court, several courts across districts, the Attorney General’s office, and multiple land revenue departments. Private homes of senior leaders were also not spared. Residences attacked include those of Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel, former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, and Minister for Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung. Political party offices of the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML were similarly ransacked. In Balkot, protesters set ablaze Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s private home, starkly symbolizing popular fury against ruling elites. This wave of attacks demonstrates that the protests have surpassed sporadic anger and have transformed into a coordinated rebellion against both political symbols and governing institutions.

Adding to the turmoil, the government’s imposition of a sweeping ban on 26 major social media platforms—including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and YouTube—has been widely perceived as an authoritarian attempt to suppress dissent and monitor public discourse. Authorities defended the measure by citing the danger of misinformation and the need for regulatory oversight, but the timing, coming immediately after nationwide demonstrations, has led many to interpret it as an assault on free speech and democratic freedoms.

The social media blackout ironically amplified discontent, with young citizens using virtual private networks (VPNs) and street-level activism to voice defiance. A parallel “Nepo Babies” trend on underground platforms further intensified anger by exposing the extravagant lifestyles of politicians’ children, contrasting sharply with the worsening unemployment and cost-of-living crises faced by ordinary citizens.

Underlying the political drama is Nepal’s chronic economic malaise and a deepening jobs crisis. A staggering 5,000 young Nepalis reportedly leave the country each day in search of employment abroad, an exodus reflecting limited opportunities at home. This youth drain has amplified resentment toward a political class accused of mismanaging the economy, engaging in favouritism, and enriching themselves and their families while ignoring structural reforms. For many young protesters, the movement is not just a fight against corruption or censorship but an existential demand to reclaim a future in their own country. The deaths of nearly two dozen student protestors in a single day have galvanized this sense of urgency, fuelling the perception of an unaccountable and violent regime that has turned against its own people.

The security situation in Kathmandu has rapidly deteriorated, prompting the closure of Tribhuvan International Airport and the deployment of the Nepali Army to secure critical infrastructure. With attacks on both government offices and the residences of top political figures, the state is struggling to regain control. Tear gas and heavy policing have failed to quell the unrest, and the cycle of violence and retaliation shows no sign of immediate de-escalation.

The gravity of the crisis has also drawn international attention, with the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu issuing advisories urging Indian nationals to defer travel to Nepal until stability is restored. Airlines such as Air India and IndiGo have suspended several flights to and from Kathmandu, underlining the seriousness of the situation for regional mobility and security.

In essence, the Gen Z movement in Nepal has crystallized into a direct generational revolt against the legacy political order, combining frustrations over corruption, elitism, censorship, and economic despair into an explosive push for youth-led change. Unlike previous protest cycles that largely targeted individual leaders or policies, the current movement is sweeping, structural, and identity-driven.

By attacking not just political figures but the physical symbols of state authority such as Parliament, courts, and the President’s Office, the youth insurgency is making clear its rejection of the existing system. Whether this unrest will force a genuine reckoning within Nepal’s political leadership, or spiral further into instability and authoritarian clampdowns, remains to be seen—but what is certain is that the nation has entered an unprecedented and volatile phase of generational confrontation.

Based On ANI Report