Violent Protests in Nepal: Supreme Court and Leaders' Homes Set Ablaze
The ongoing protests in Nepal, sparked by a social media ban and corruption allegations, have entered their third day. On September 9, the Nepalese army took full control of the country to curb escalating violence. However, unrest continues in several regions.
On the same day, protesters set fire to the Supreme Court, resulting in the destruction of over 25,000 case files. Today, the army announced the arrest of 27 rioters involved in looting, arson, and inciting violence.
According to the military, these individuals were exploiting the unrest to create chaos and cause harm. Authorities also recovered ₹3.37 million (Nepalese Rupees) in cash, along with 23 guns, magazines, bullets, and 31 other types of weapons.
Key Developments
- Former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned and left Kathmandu.
- Violent protests have resulted in 23 deaths and over 400 injuries so far.
- PM Oli's residence was set on fire on September 9, with large plumes of smoke seen rising from the location.
- President Ram Chandra Paudel's official residence (Sheetal Bhawan) was also torched by protesters on the same day.
- Security forces evacuated PM Oli via helicopter to an undisclosed safe location.
- Homes of three former Prime Ministers — Sher Bahadur Deuba, Jhala Nath Khanal, and Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) — were attacked and set on fire.
- Jhala Nath Khanal’s wife, Rajlaxmi Chitrakar, was severely burned in the fire and later died in Kirtipur Burn Hospital.
- Former PM Sher Bahadur Deuba was physically assaulted in his home.
- Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel was chased and beaten near his residence in Kathmandu.
Security Measures
The army continues to enforce strict control across Nepal. The government has not yet released a formal statement about how long military control will remain in effect.c