Nepal clashes: Demonstrators were planning to hold peaceful protest; police ‘shot friend in the head’

An enormous protest exterior the Kathmandu Parliament in opposition to the authorities’s ban on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and different social media platforms turned violent on Monday, as clashes broke out between police and demonstrators.Many protesters mentioned that they had supposed to hold a peaceful demonstration however were met with police aggression as they superior.“We were planning to hold a peaceful protest, but as we advanced further, we could see the violence by the police. The police are firing on the people, which is against the essence of peaceful protest,” a protester advised ANI.“Those who are sitting in power cannot impose their power on us. Anti-corruption protests are being suppressed, which is against the freedom of speech and the right to expression. The Police have been firing at protestors.”Another demonstrator gave a vivid account of the violence, revealing {that a} bullet geared toward him struck a friend as a substitute.“A while ago, the police fired bullets which did not hit me but hit a friend of mine standing behind me. He was shot in the hand. The firing is still going on and we can hear gunfire from inside the parliament as well. My friend, who was standing on the road, was shot in the head. The police are firing indiscriminately, aiming above the knees. Are they allowed to do this?”Nepal Police confirmed that 9 individuals have died as the protests escalated, whereas demonstrators additionally vandalised the Parliament gate throughout the clashes.The demonstrations started in response to the social media ban, with residents demanding the restoration of entry to Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and different platforms. Violence intensified as police sought to disperse the crowd, drawing widespread condemnation from protestors., ANI reportedThe ban, which got here into impact on September 4, focused platforms that were not registered with the Nepalese authorities. Authorities claimed social media customers with faux IDs were spreading hate speech, faux information, and committing fraud and different crimes on some platforms.Local media reported that protesters marched from Damak Chowk in the direction of the municipal workplace, burning an effigy of prime minister KP Sharma Oli and making an attempt to break municipal gates. Police responded with rubber bullets, leaving one protester critically injured, whereas demonstrators set hearth to a number of bikes. Protesters additionally threw tree branches and water bottles, shouting slogans in opposition to authorities corruption, with some even coming into the Parliament premises, in accordance to Kathmandu Post.The Himalayan Times described the scenario as extremely tense, with safety forces working to restore order whereas safeguarding civilians. Beyond Kathmandu and Jhapa, Gen Z youths staged protests in Pokhara, Butwal, Chitwan, Nepalgunj, and Biratnagar.