As protests against government corruption erupted across Nepal, violence spiraled out of control resulting in more than 70 fatalities, particularly among young demonstrators. Families mourn the loss of loved ones as they demand accountability and justice from the government.
Among the families gathered outside Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Narendra Shrestha mourns his son Sulov, who was shot amid the unrest. Everyone said rubber bullet, rubber bullet. It was not a rubber bullet. If you see my son, his head was broken, a hole is there, he lamented, calling for responsibility.
In total, over 1,000 individuals were injured during the violence that followed the controversial ban on social media platforms amidst a push for transparency. Following the retraction of the ban, public outrage exploded with demonstrators setting fire to government buildings and demanding systemic changes.
The response of the police has come under scrutiny, with accusations of using live ammunition rather than rubber bullets, leading to numerous casualties, including the hopes of youth with dreams cut tragically short.
New interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki has vowed to conduct an investigation into the events and restore faith in the government, but the road ahead will be fraught with challenges as calls for justice grow louder among grieving families.
