No fewer than 17 people were killed and more than 140 injured on Monday when police opened fire on protesters in Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu.

Tens of thousands had gathered to denounce government corruption and a new ban on social media platforms, including Facebook, X, and YouTube. Authorities said the ban was imposed because the companies refused to register locally and comply with oversight rules.

The demonstrations, led largely by young people, quickly escalated. Protesters pushed through barricades and surrounded Parliament, chanting slogans such as “stop corruption, not social media.” Police initially used tear gas and water cannons, but eventually opened fire as riot control measures failed.

Rights groups have condemned the government’s actions, accusing it of using censorship to silence critics. The proposed bill before Parliament would force social media companies to set up offices in Nepal and be directly accountable to the authorities. Opponents say it undermines freedom of expression and fuels authoritarianism. The government has now imposed a curfew in central Kathmandu, but smaller protests continued into the evening.