Nepal Crisis Deepens: PM Oli Resigns Amid Gen Z-Led Protests; Arson and Attacks Target Ministers and Top Leaders’ Homes

Agencies and KalimNews, September 9, 2025, Kathmandu .Nepal plunged deeper into political turmoil on Monday as Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli formally tendered his resignation, confirmed by his secretariat, following days of escalating violence during youth-led anti-corruption protests. The demonstrations, primarily organized by Gen Z activists, turned deadly after 19 people were killed during police crackdowns on Monday. Over 345 others were injured nationwide.

The Prime Minister’s resignation came in the wake of mounting pressure and successive ministerial resignations, including those of Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak (resigned Monday night), Agriculture Minister Ramnath Adhikari (resigned Tuesday morning), and Health Minister Pradeep Paudel (resigned Tuesday afternoon). In addition, 20 Members of Parliament from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) announced their collective resignation from Parliament and called for the formation of an interim national government.

The RSP, led by acting president DP Aryal, put forth a five-point demand, which includes: the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Oli, the formation of a high-level judicial investigation commission to probe the deaths, the dismissal and arrest of the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Information Minister, and Kathmandu’s Chief District Officer, and the establishment of an all-party civilian government.

In an unprecedented show of public outrage, the protests spiraled into arson and destruction. Demonstrators stormed and set fire to multiple government buildings, political party offices, and private residences of senior leaders.

In Kathmandu’s Naikap area, protesters torched the residence of former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, just a day after his resignation. Eyewitnesses described the blaze as uncontrollable, with fire engines initially unable to respond due to security risks.

The private residence of Health Minister Pradeep Paudel in Shankhamul was attacked and vandalized. Protesters dragged furniture, documents, and other personal belongings into the street before setting them ablaze.

Ullens School in Khumaltar, Lalitpur—chaired by Foreign Minister Arju Rana Deuba—was set on fire in the early hours of Tuesday. Firefighters were reportedly blocked by demonstrators, and significant damage to the school building was later confirmed.

Demonstrators also attacked the home of Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', chairman of the Nepal Communist Party (Maoist Centre), in Khumaltar. Stones were hurled, and parts of the residence were torched before police intervened.

The private residence of Minister for Communication, Information and Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung in Sunakothi, Lalitpur, was also targeted. Protesters initially pelted stones before setting fire to parts of the home.

In Budhanilkantha, protesters vandalized the home of Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba. Though Deuba has not resigned, his party has been under intense scrutiny for allegedly enabling corruption and resisting political accountability.

The central offices of major political parties also faced attacks. The Nepali Congress headquarters in Sanepa was vandalized and torched. Protesters shattered windows, broke furniture, and set fire to the premises. Similarly, the CPN-UML office in Chyasal, Lalitpur, was attacked and set ablaze.

Amid this chaos, protestors also attempted to storm Singh Durbar—the country’s main administrative complex—forcing Nepali Army deployment to secure the Parliament area and evacuate ministers by helicopter. Large crowds breached the compound through multiple entry points, including the eastern gate.

Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu has been closed indefinitely due to security concerns, with several fires reported in the surrounding Gothatar area. The Nepali Army has now assumed full control of airport security.

Adding to the urgency, the India-Nepal border has been put on high alert. Indian districts bordering Nepal, including Bahraich, Lakhimpur Kheri, and Maharajganj in Uttar Pradesh, have intensified patrols and surveillance to prevent any spillover of unrest. The Ministry of External Affairs of India issued an advisory urging Indian citizens in Nepal to exercise extreme caution.

The Nepal Police Headquarters has now appointed AIG Dan Bahadur Karki as the new chief of the Valley Police Office, following the retirement of AIG Tek Bahadur Tamang. During Monday’s violence, the valley police had been left without top-level leadership.

The Gen Z-led protests, sparked by allegations of high-level corruption and censorship following a temporary social media ban, continue to demand full accountability and structural political reforms. The government has since lifted the ban on social media platforms, but the damage—both literal and symbolic—has already been done.

As Nepal stands at a critical juncture, the coming days are expected to be decisive in determining whether the country can transition towards political stability through dialogue, or sink deeper into civic unrest and institutional collapse.