At least 13 people have been killed and dozens are injured in Nepal after demonstrations against a government social media ban led to clashes between protesters and security forces.
Thousands heeded a call by demonstrators describing themselves as Generation Z to gather near the parliament building in Kathmandu over the decision to ban platforms including Facebook, X, and YouTube.
Nepal's Minister for Communication Prithvi Subba told the BBC that police had to use force, which included water cannons, batons, and firing rubber bullets.
The government has stated that social media platforms need to be regulated to tackle fake news, hate speech, and online fraud.
However, popular platforms such as Instagram have millions of users in Nepal who rely on them for entertainment, news, and business.
Demonstrators carried placards with slogans like enough is enough and end to corruption. Some argued against what they perceive to be an authoritarian government posture.
As the rally moved into a restricted area close to parliament, some protesters climbed over a wall. Police spokesman Shekhar Khanal reported that tear gas and water cannons were deployed after the protesters breached the restricted area.
A curfew was imposed around areas including the parliament building after protest attempts intensified.
Last week, authorities ordered the blocking of 26 social media platforms for failing to comply with a deadline to register with Nepal's ministry of communication and information technology.
Since Friday, users have faced challenges accessing these platforms, though some have utilized VPNs to bypass the ban. So far, two platforms have been reactivated after registration with the ministry.
The Nepalese government claims it is not banning social media but rather seeking to align them with national laws.
