Pro-monarchy protests in Kathmandu turned violent on Friday, prompting authorities to deploy the army and impose a five-hour curfew in several areas. The unrest erupted after demonstrators demanding the restoration of Nepal’s monarchy clashed with police, leaving two people dead and at least 30 injured. An emergency cabinet meeting is underway in Nepal after the violence spree.
Pro-monarchy protests turn violent in Kathmandu, army deployed
The curfew, enforced until 10 pm, covered key areas including Koteshwor, Tinkune, Baneshwor, and the airport zone. Authorities allowed movement to the airport only for those with valid tickets. The protest reflects growing dissatisfaction with Nepal’s political instability and rising support for reinstating the monarchy and Hinduism as the state religion.
Violence erupts as protesters attack offices, loot stores
Violence broke out as thousands of pro-monarchy protesters, carrying Nepalese flags and images of former king Gyanendra Shah, marched through Kathmandu’s Tinkune area. Demonstrators pelted stones, attacked the office of the CPN-Unified Socialists in Baneshwor, and set fire to eight vehicles. They also looted the Bhatbhateni Supermarket in Chabahil and vandalized the offices of Kantipur Television and Annapurna Post newspaper.
In response, police fired tear gas and water cannons after protesters breached security barriers. Authorities confirmed that around half of the injured were police personnel, who were targeted as they tried to control the crowd.
Counter-protesters defend the republic system
Simultaneously, in another part of Kathmandu, a counter-protest opposing the return of the monarchy was held. Supporters of the republican system gathered near the national parliament, insisting that Nepal will not revert to its monarchical past.
Former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who led the Maoist insurgency that helped end the monarchy, addressed the gathering, saying, “Nepalis will not return to the past. Maybe they have dared to raise their heads because we have failed to meet the people’s expectations.” Dahal acknowledged public frustration over corruption and weak governance but maintained that the republican system remains the path forward.
Public dissatisfaction fuels monarchist sentiment
The pro-monarchy sentiment has been growing amid increasing discontent over Nepal’s political and economic challenges. “The country should have developed significantly. People should have had better job opportunities, peace, and good governance. Instead, things have only deteriorated,” said Mina Subedi, a 55-year-old protester. Many demonstrators view the monarchy as a symbol of stability and believe its restoration would address the country’s problems.
Former king Gyanendra Shah returns to public view
Former king Gyanendra Shah, who abdicated the throne in 2008 after the monarchy was abolished, has recently made several public appearances, further energizing royalist supporters. Shah’s return to the spotlight comes as many Nepalese express disillusionment with the political establishment. His ascension to the throne in 2001 followed the palace massacre that claimed the lives of King Birendra and much of the royal family. In 2005, he dissolved parliament and seized executive powers, leading to mass protests that ultimately forced the monarchy’s end.
Authorities on high alert as tensions rise
The unrest highlights the continuing divide in Nepal over its political future, with monarchist voices gaining traction amid dissatisfaction with the republic’s performance. Local authorities said the situation remains tense, and additional security measures will be taken if further violence erupts.