Curfew Reimposed in Nepal’s Bara District After Gen-Z Protesters Clash with UML Supporters of Ex-PM KP Oli
A curfew has been reinstated in the Bara district due to clashes involving protesters and the Communist Party of Nepal - Unified Marxist - Leninist Presided over by ex-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) November 20: Following confrontations involving Gen-Z activists and the ex- Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli supporters of Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), Bara District in Nepal intensified.
The District Administration Office issued the order for 1 PM to 8 PM (local time), due to curtailing of public movements and the advancing youth agitation movement that has entered the second day.
The curfew ended at 4:30 PM (local time), once the administration and Gen-Z activists came to an agreement.
Activists and UML supporters confront each other
The confrontations initially began earlier in the week and escalated as activists seeking to promote political changes across the country came face to face with supporters of the UML political party. In order to prevent the violence that the district has been battling for some time that has been accompanied with political unrest, security personnel have been stationed within key areas in the district of Bara.
UML leaders Shankar Pokharel and Mahesh Basnet face airport protests
According to the police, CPN UML general secretary Shankar Pokharel and party youth leader Mahesh Basnet were about to board Buddha Air flight from Kathmandu for Simara when the scuffle broke out. They were due to speak at an anti government protest. When word got out that the leaders were flying to Simara, Gen Z protesters had gathered again at the airport in an attempt to stop them offloading. It resulted into clash with local UML workers.
The CPN UML has been organising protest programmes throughout the country calling for the restoration of the house, which was dissolved on September 12 after it became uncertain that Gen Z's push to oust the Oli government would be successful.
Growing Gen-Z movement reshapes Nepal’s political scene
The frequent skirmishes highlight the growing political polarisation and increasing clout of Nepal’s ‘next generation’ which has been closely challenging established party structures, now seeking a new political direction.
This was just over two months after the violent Gen-Z protests, allegedly against a social media ban in the country, but that led to a fall of the KP Sharma Oli government.
Nepal’s Political Landscape Faces New Generation Challenges
On September 8, it exploded into huge anti-government protests led by Gen-Z and fuelled by years of turning rage over corruption and inequality.
The protests turned into violent confrontations with the police, resulting in at least 51 deaths and more than 1,300 injuries. A day later, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was thrown out of office along with his UML government.
Several days after that, Nepal’s ex-Chief Justice Sushila Karki was appointed as the interim Prime Minister making her the first woman to hold the position.
