On November 19 and 20, 2025, Nepal’s Bara district once again became the epicenter of political turbulence, as Gen Z-led protests flared up, resulting in street clashes, a government-imposed curfew, and renewed national anxiety over the country’s fragile transition. The unrest, which follows the deadly “Gen Z uprising” in September, underscores the lingering volatility in the Himalayan nation as it prepares for pivotal elections scheduled for March 5, 2026.
According to multiple local news reports, tensions reignited early Wednesday when both Gen Z activists and supporters of the Communist Party of Nepal–Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML)—the party previously led by ousted prime minister KP Sharma Oli—organized simultaneous rallies in Simara, a bustling town near the district airport. The demonstrations quickly turned confrontational, with scuffles erupting at several sites, including perilously close to the airport, forcing authorities to intervene.
District officials responded by imposing a strict curfew, initially set for Wednesday and later extended until 8 pm local time on Thursday, November 20. Public gatherings were banned throughout Bara, with local administrators citing the need to stabilize the situation and prevent further escalation. Security was visibly tightened across the district, and public assemblies remain prohibited until further notice.
Despite these measures, the curfew order failed to deter determined protesters. By 11 am Thursday, crowds had already begun assembling at Simara Chowk, hours before the administration’s 1 pm curfew was set to take effect. The standoff quickly escalated as demonstrators surged into the streets, clashing with police. According to Khabarhub, as quoted by PTI, officers fired six tear gas shells and two rounds of aerial fire after protesters advanced despite repeated warnings. Stone pelting left six police personnel injured, while four Gen Z protesters also suffered injuries. Demonstrators, angered by what they saw as police partiality, went so far as to set fire to the police beat in Simara Bazaar and torch items taken from the UML office.
The violence first erupted a day earlier, after word spread that CPN-UML general secretary Shankar Pokharel and youth leader Mahesh Basnet would be arriving in Simara to address an anti-government rally. Gen Z groups mobilized at the airport to oppose their arrival, leading to a heated confrontation with local UML members. The party ultimately canceled the event amid mounting tensions. Police later arrested two UML ward chairpersons, Dhan Bahadur Shrestha and Kaimoddin Ansari, for allegedly assaulting Gen Z youths during the November 19 clashes.
Samrat Upadhyay, a 21-year-old Gen Z leader from Simara, described the escalation: “Thus, our demand is simple – arrest Mahesh Basnet and UML cadres who launched a brutal attack on us today, injuring at least seven of us. Bara will remain close until our demands are met,” Upadhyay was quoted as saying by The Himalayan Times. The group filed formal complaints against six UML cadres, accusing them of orchestrating the violence that left several young protesters injured.
Police action on Thursday included the firing of tear gas to disperse crowds near Simara Airport, temporarily suspending airport operations. Nepal Police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle told AFP, “The situation is normal... No one was severely injured,” providing some reassurance in the midst of widespread concern. Still, the atmosphere in Bara remained tense, with authorities wary of further escalation.
Prime Minister Sushila Karki, who was appointed interim leader following the September uprising, issued a public appeal for calm and restraint. “I have directed the Home Administration and security agencies to work with utmost restraint and preparation to maintain peace and order,” Karki said in a statement issued late Wednesday. She emphasized her commitment to “ensure the safe movement of leaders of all political parties and create a fair and fear-free environment for the elections.” Karki also convened a meeting with representatives from more than 110 political parties, stressing the importance of generational change in Nepal’s leadership. “We want this country to be in the hands of a new generation and to be managed by people with vision,” she told the gathering.
The renewed unrest in Bara comes just weeks after the September 8–9 Gen Z uprising, which was triggered by a brief government ban on social media. What began as outrage over digital censorship quickly ballooned into a broader revolt, fueled by years of economic stagnation and entrenched corruption in the nation of 30 million. The demonstrations, which left at least 76 people dead, saw protesters torching parliament, courts, and government offices, ultimately forcing the resignation of then–prime minister KP Sharma Oli. Sushila Karki, a former chief justice, was appointed interim prime minister to guide Nepal through its precarious political transition and toward fresh elections.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has since accused Nepal’s security forces of using disproportionate and unlawful force during the September protests. In a detailed report, HRW stated that police opened fire repeatedly on largely young demonstrators in Kathmandu on September 8, killing at least 17 people in the capital alone. The organization’s review of video evidence and witness accounts found no imminent threat to life that would have justified such lethal action. HRW also reported that dozens of detainees were beaten in custody by the Special Task Force. The violence escalated on September 9, with mobs attacking police stations and government buildings, and three policemen killed as law enforcement struggled to regain control. A judicial commission is now investigating the deaths of at least 76 people nationwide during the uprising.
The current wave of protests is also closely linked to the approaching March 2026 elections. Tensions have been heightened by the planned visits of UML leaders and the lingering mistrust between Gen Z activists and establishment parties. Interim Prime Minister Karki has repeatedly called on all political actors to “refrain from unwanted political provocation” and to place their trust in the democratic process. Her administration faces the daunting task of maintaining peace and order while shepherding the country through a period marked by public anger, political fragmentation, and widespread distrust in state institutions.
As Nepal stands at a crossroads, the demands of its younger generation are impossible to ignore. The Gen Z movement, once galvanized by a fleeting social media ban, now channels deeper frustrations with systemic corruption and a lack of economic opportunity. The coming months will test whether Nepal’s leaders—new and old—can chart a peaceful path forward or whether the cycle of unrest will continue to haunt the nation.
