Nepal was thrown into turmoil on Tuesday when Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, the wife of four-time Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, was viciously attacked by an enraged mob of young demonstrators who stormed her official residence in Kathmandu. The shocking assault unfolded in the midst of escalating anti-government protests spearheaded by Generation Z activists, who have mobilized across the country to demand accountability from political leaders accused of corruption, nepotism, and authoritarian governance.
A harrowing video of the attack, now circulating widely across social media platforms, captured the moment protesters forced their way into the minister’s home before physically assaulting her. The footage shows the foreign minister being punched, kicked, and shoved by the mob, leaving her visibly shaken. In the midst of the chaos, a smaller group of demonstrators attempted to intervene, stepping in to protect her from further violence, underscoring the volatile and unpredictable nature of the unfolding protests.
The violence erupted after weeks of mounting frustration among Nepal’s youth, which intensified when the government imposed a controversial social media ban. Although authorities eventually lifted the ban following public backlash, the move ignited a broader outcry, with protesters insisting that the restrictions were a symptom of the government’s failure to uphold democratic freedoms. The agitation quickly evolved into a larger anti-establishment movement, as accusations of widespread corruption, nepotism, and economic mismanagement came to dominate the demands of the demonstrators.
By the third consecutive day of protests, the movement had escalated into large-scale unrest marked by widespread vandalism and arson. Government buildings, including the Parliament, were attacked, while mobs also stormed the offices of the Prime Minister and the President. The intensity of the protests forced Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to announce his resignation on Tuesday, acknowledging the growing instability and loss of public trust.
The unrest has exacted a heavy toll on Nepal’s citizens. Official reports confirm that at least 22 people have lost their lives since the protests began, while more than 300 others have been injured in violent clashes between security forces and demonstrators. In an attempt to restore order, the Nepal Army has been deployed across major urban centers, where heavily armed personnel patrol the streets and issue urgent appeals through loudspeakers, urging civilians to remain indoors, avoid confrontation, and resist joining the unrest.
This shocking episode, marked by the assault on a senior government minister and the resignation of the prime minister, highlights the severity of Nepal’s political crisis. What began as a protest against censorship has transformed into a powerful youth-led uprising that is challenging the foundations of the ruling establishment and exposing deep fissures in the nation’s governance.
