Curfew Slapped on Nepal’s Bara as Gen‑Z Protests Rage Again

Kathmandu: Just two months after the Gen‑Z uprising forced a regime change in Nepal, unrest flares up again in Nepal between Gen-Z protesters and supporters of former Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli’s Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist‑Leninist).

Curfew has been imposed from 1 pm to 8 pm in Bara district after fresh clashes erupted between Gen‑Z protesters and supporters of former Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli’s Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist‑Leninist). The District Administration Office cited public‑safety concerns as the youth‑driven movement entered its second consecutive day of protests

Scuffles broke out near Simara Airport after CPN‑UML cadres allegedly attacked demonstrators. Bara District Chief Dharmendra Kumar Mishra confirmed two alleged attackers have been arrested and said no serious injuries were reported on Wednesday. “We are trying to normalise the situation and call them for a dialogue. A curfew has been imposed right now,” he told reporters.

The Gen-Z protesters, demanding accountability for the Wednesday violence, are part of the same movement that surged in September. That earlier uprising, sparked by a brief social‑media ban and fueled by years of economic stagnation and corruption, left 76 dead and saw parliament, courts and government offices torched, culminating in Oli’s ouster and the appointment of former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as interim Prime Minister.

Karki has since appealed for calm, urging all parties to “refrain from unwanted political provocation” and to trust the democratic process ahead of elections scheduled for March 5, 2026. In a statement, she directed security agencies to act with “utmost restraint” and to ensure a “fair, fear‑free environment” for political leaders and voters. She also met representatives of more than 110 parties, emphasising the need to hand the country “to a new generation and to be managed by people with vision.”

The curfew and police deployment have temporarily halted airport operations and disrupted traffic, but tensions remain high as both sides prepare for further confrontation.

(With inputs from AFP)