Bits and Bobs: Nepal’s Explosive Resignation

The trigger: A government ban on 26 social media apps. Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, X and others went dark. Instead of silence, fury erupted.

The streets: Kathmandu turned into a battlefield. Parliament stormed and set on fire, ministers’ homes attacked, airport shut down. Thick smoke over the capital, stones raining on riot police.

The toll: At least 19 killed, hundreds injured. Amnesty says live ammunition was used. The UN calls for a swift inquiry. Gen Z protesters call it murder.

The resignation: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, age 73, in his fourth term, handed in his resignation to the president. He said it was to “facilitate a solution.” Protesters outside parliament cheered.

The anger: “They don’t drink regular water, only imported cartons,” said Naresh Rawal, 27. “They drive Land Rovers while we leave for the Gulf to work. This was necessary action.”

The voices:

Rohan Ansari, 20, saw his friend shot dead. “Now his soul will rest in peace. From now on the work will be led by the youth.”

Tanuja Pandey, 24: “This is not the death of 19 youths, it is murder. The government’s hands are stained with blood.”

Raksha Bam, 26: “Instead of stopping corruption, they shut down our space. That is why Gen Z gathered.”

The official response: A government committee to investigate, compensation for the dead, free treatment for the injured. Critics dismiss it as too late.

The shift: The president has invited protest leaders for talks. The governing coalition has collapsed.

The pattern: Nepal’s young people, long alienated by corruption and political stagnation, have made themselves the new power on the streets. The social media ban that was supposed to silence them only made them louder.

The uncertain future: The army has been deployed, curfews are in place, but the protests show no sign of dying down. “We will not let this energy die in vain,” said Khem Neupane, 31.

Would you like me to expand this into a longer magazine-style feature with historical background on Nepal’s corruption and youth protests, or keep it tight as a news snapshot?