(Image source from: Thehansindia.com)

Rajyalaxmi Chitrakar, the spouse of former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal from Nepal, passed away on Tuesday, according to news sources. This occurred after young protesters, known as Gen Z, trapped her in their residence and set it ablaze. The event happened at their house located in the Dallu district of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Family members stated that Ms. Chitrakar was taken to Kirtipur Burn Hospital, but unfortunately, she did not survive the treatment.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, whose residence was also set on fire, announced his resignation on Tuesday as the protests against a brief ban on social media escalated into violent demonstrations and wider criticisms of his administration and accusations of corruption among the powerful figures in Nepal. A video showed his finance minister, Bishnu Prasad Paudel, 65, being pursued down the streets of the capital, where he was brutally kicked and beaten. The protests, led by younger individuals angry over the blocking of various social media platforms, began the day before, resulting in police firing on the crowds and causing 19 fatalities.

The social media ban was lifted on Monday night, but the protests did not cease. Protesters burned the residences of some of the country’s top leaders and even the parliament building. The main airport in Kathmandu was closed, and military helicopters were used to transport some ministers to safety. As the unrest continued to grow, Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli announced he would resign right away. These protests, referred to as the Gen Z movement, started after the government blocked access to platforms such as Facebook, X, and YouTube, claiming these companies hadn’t registered or complied with governmental regulations. Despite the return of these sites, the public outcry persisted, fueled by the anger over the police violence that resulted in deaths and the alleged corruption within the government.

A significant number of young people are frustrated that the children of political leaders, often called Nepo Kids, appear to lead lavish lifestyles with many advantages, while the majority of the youth face difficulties finding jobs. In response to the turmoil in Nepal, India has advised its citizens to postpone travel to the neighboring nation until the situation becomes stable. Air India, IndiGo, and Nepal Airlines canceled their flights from Delhi to Kathmandu on Tuesday due to the ongoing anti-government protests.