In brief
Pro-monarchist demonstrations erupted in Nepal, culminating in the deaths of two individuals and numerous injuries as protestors clashed with police. The unrest follows persistent calls for the return of the monarchy, which was disbanded in 2008.
Amidst escalating demands for the restoration of Nepal's monarchy, two lives were tragically lost in clashes that erupted on Friday in the capital, Kathmandu. The protests were led by royalist supporters advocating for the return of Gyanendra Shah, the last King of Nepal, as they pushed for the establishment of a constitutional monarchy conducive to a parliamentary democracy with Hindu characteristics.According to Dinesh Kumar Acharya, a spokesperson for the Nepali police, one of the deceased was a protester who succumbed to bullet wounds, while a television journalist was killed amidst the chaos as protestors ignited a building from which he was covering the events. Additionally, the violence saw approximately 30 civilians and 40 police officers sustain injuries.In light of the unrest, the Nepali government imposed a curfew across significant areas of Kathmandu and mobilized military forces to regain control of the situation. The resurgence of pro-monarchist sentiment is attributed to growing frustrations among the populace regarding perceived corruption within established political factions, including the administration led by Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, and dissatisfaction over the country's ongoing struggles with poverty and political instability.
