Reuters, March 29, 2025, KATHMANDU : Nepal’s government is investigating deadly violence that occurred during a rally by the supporters of the former king seeking the restoration of constitutional monarchy, a minister said on Saturday.
Two people were killed on Friday and at least 112 injured, including 77 security officials, authorities said, after police used force to stop the stone-throwing crowd from marching towards the parliament building in the capital Kathmandu.
Protesters vandalised homes, shops, a hospital, a political party office, vehicles and a shopping mall and snatched a weapon from the police, the authorities in the Himalayan nation said.
“This is sheer vandalism, arson, looting and anarchy. It cannot be a protest,” cabinet spokesman Prithvi Subba Gurung, the minister of communication and information technology, told Reuters.
Rishiram Tiwari, Kathmandu’s chief district officer, said 105 protesters including some pro-monarchy leaders were taken into custody.
Nepal’s 239-year-old monarchy was abolished in 2008 by a specially elected assembly as part of a deal with Maoist former rebels, ending an insurgency that killed 17,000 people between 1996 and 2006.
The last king, 77-year-old Gyanendra, lives as a commoner with his family in a private house in Kathmandu.
Political instability has rocked Nepal, one of the world’s poorest countries, with 14 governments since the abolition of the monarchy, hampering economic growth and discouraging investment.
Public frustration has risen over the failure of successive governments to deliver on commitments to develop the economy of the country, a natural buffer between Asian giants China and India.
Agencies,, March 28, 2025 : Tensions reached a boiling point in Kathmandu on Friday as violent clashes broke out between pro-monarchy activists and Nepalese security forces during a rally demanding the restoration of the monarchy and the return of the Hindu kingdom status. The violence resulted in two fatalities, including that of Suresh Rajak, a photojournalist who was caught in the chaos, and left several others injured. Among the wounded were over a dozen police officers.
The protests, organized by the pro-monarchy Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and other royalist groups, began peacefully in the Tinkune area but quickly escalated as protesters attempted to breach a security cordon and threw stones at law enforcement. In response, police deployed tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the growing crowd. The protesters, waving national flags and holding portraits of former King Gyanendra Shah, chanted slogans such as “Raja aau, desh bachau” (“Let the King come to save the country”) and “We want monarchy back.” The situation spiraled out of control as the protest turned violent, with demonstrators setting fire to several buildings, including a business complex, a shopping mall, a political party headquarters, and a media house.
The violence led to widespread destruction, and security forces were called into action to restore order. Riot police were deployed across Kathmandu, particularly in the Tinkune, Sinamangal, and Koteshwor areas, where a curfew has since been imposed. Several youths were detained for violating curfew orders, while police continue to investigate the situation. Rajak’s charred body was discovered in the aftermath of the protest, though formal identification is still pending. His tragic death highlights the dangers faced by journalists covering volatile events.
Pro-monarchy sentiment has been growing in Nepal, and the recent clashes are a clear manifestation of this shift. The monarchy was abolished in 2008, ending a 240-year-old dynasty and establishing Nepal as a secular federal democratic republic. However, since that transition, the country has been marred by political instability, with 13 different governments taking office in the last 16 years. Public frustration with rampant corruption and the ongoing economic decline has led many to view the former king as a symbol of stability and order. The recent protests were spurred by an appeal from King Gyanendra on Democracy Day, February 19, when he urged the people to restore the monarchy.
Earlier in March, Gyanendra’s return to Kathmandu sparked another pro-monarchy rally, where supporters shouted slogans like “Come back king, save the country.” Reports claimed that nearly 400,000 people gathered to support the former king, though official news agencies estimated the turnout at around 10,000. Political experts believe that the momentum for restoring the monarchy is gaining traction, particularly in light of the nation’s ongoing political and economic challenges.
In response to the escalating unrest, Nepal’s former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal accused Gyanendra of inciting the violence and urged the government to take action against those advocating for the monarchy’s return. The government has pledged to investigate the incidents and has vowed to ensure the safety and security of citizens while maintaining law and order.
The situation remains tense in Kathmandu, and authorities are closely monitoring the developments to prevent further violence.
