Lingering wounds of revolt

As the youth protest turned violent in Baneswar last week, healthcare workers across the city watched shocked, horrified, and overwhelmed, as the injured were carried in with bullets to the head, chest, torso, and limbs.

The death toll from last week’s youth protests against corruption and malgovernance has now reached 74. A majority of the dead and injured are young Nepalis who had marched on 8 and 9 September in hopes that the movement would see the dawn of a new Nepal.

Meanwhile, more than 1,700 people across the country were injured. Many young Nepalis had joined the rally in their uniforms, believing that it would protect them from any violence that might occur during the day, as international law protects students from use of force.

But the security forces fired live ammunition into the crowd. First responders and healthcare workers say that police have used extreme and inhumane force on student protestors, with some needing multiple surgeries to treat bullet wounds.

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Twenty-year-old student Kishore Dhakal is one among hundreds of protesters who was shot during the protest. He now lies recovering at Bir Hospital, unable to speak due to the injuries and stitches on his face. Videos of him being shot have been widely circulated on social media. 

“He just completed grade 12 and was planning to go abroad for his further studies,” says Dhakal’s father, who is by his son’s bedside. “Once he is out of danger and gets better, we plan to go back to our village.”

Netra Bikram Thapa, 30, was at the protest in Baneswar chanting anti-corruption slogans when the security forces began firing water cannons and tear gas towards demonstrators. As they were asking to be able to move forward, police started firing live rounds, and a bullet struck Thapa. 

“I joined the movement because I wanted corruption to end and good governance to prevail,” says Thapa, who is currently recovering at Bir Hospital. “We are not from the land of Gandhi, this is the land of Bhimsen Thapa — we refused to keep mum, and began counterattacking with stones.”

The protest degenerated into arson and mayhem on the second day as protestors vandalised political party offices and private residences of leaders. Demonstrators reportedly found millions stashed in the houses of political leaders, burning the money along with everything else. 

Arson and looting escalated that afternoon after erstwhile Prime Minister Oli resigned, as agitators set fire to the three branches of government, numerous bureaucratic and government institutions , 12 Bhatbhateni outlets, the Hilton Hotel, Ullens school, Kantipur Media Group, and several automobile dealerships.  

The GenZ community had immediately condemned the arson and looting of public property and distanced itself from the violence, claiming that their movement was infiltrated by provocateurs and extremists.

“The politicians sit on piles upon piles of cash at home while ordinary Nepalis only have change in their pockets,” says 20-year-old Liza Adhikari, who participated in the protest after hearing about it on social media. 

Adhikari had told her family that she would be away working on a college assignment, but instead went to Baneswar. She was in the crowd in front of Parliament when police began firing, and was about to head back when she noticed a fellow demonstrator who had been exposed to tear gas in need of assistance. 

“I had crouched down to help, asking police personnel not to shoot or use violence, but then they just shot me,” recalls Adhikari, who is receiving treatment at the National Trauma Center. 

Protestors exposed to tear gas had been struggling to breathe before police began to fire live ammunition, conserving what little water they had.

“Some shops refused to provide us water when we begged them for help to soothe our irritated eyes and face, but some cafes were really helpful and restocked our water supply,” says Adhikari. “I will never forget their kindness.”

Samir Acharya, 20 was in front of Parliament, and was shot on the leg on 8 September as the crowd tried to retreat. “The police aimed and shot to kill that day, students would not have been shot on the head and chest otherwise,” he says.

The dead have been declared martyrs and were cremated with Guards of Honour in Pashupati on Tuesday. In the aftermath of the loss, there have been rallying cries for justice, and calls for the sacrifices of those who lost their lives not to be in vain. 

As Dasain approaches, Nepalis are picking up pieces of their lives and slowly moving forward. But the pain of the families that lost their children will linger for a lifetime.

Nepalis chose their first female Prime Minister to lead the interim government in the days after the unrest, and the PM has so far dissolved Parliament and appointed three ministers who have exemplary public records.

Political parties, legal experts, and members of civil society have raised concerns and objections against parliament dissolution, but many young Nepalis hope that the temporary government heralds change for governance in Nepal. 

Says Acharya: “Revolutions have come and gone in Nepal with no long-term improvements. But this time, with the new government, I have high hopes.”