Nepal protest Sept 11 highlights: 34 dead so far, violent stir calms down but curfew extended

Nepal continues to be on the edge as it moves toward forming an interim government. While the streets remained relatively better on Thursday, tensions are still running high due to disagreements over the next prime minister.

– No major protests, but tensions persist

Although no large-scale demonstrations occurred on Thursday, minor clashes broke out near the Nepal Army headquarters over disagreements related to the interim prime minister selection.

Curfew extended across cities

– Authorities extended the curfew in Kathmandu and other cities until Friday, aiming to prevent unrest as the political situation remains fragile.

Emerging frontrunners for interim PM

– Several figures are being considered for the interim prime minister role, including former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah, former NEA director Kulman Ghising, and Dharan Mayor Harka Sampang.

– Protester divisions intensify

The list of potential candidates has led to disagreements even among protesters, contributing to clashes and further deepening the political divide.

– President appeals for calm and resolution

Nepal’s president issued a public appeal for peace and urged citizens to remain calm as negotiations continue. The president and army have reportedly urged Gen-Z leaders to reach a consensus on the new interim leader.

Nepal news live: The protests in Nepal, popularly referred to as the ‘Gen Z’ protests as most protesters were in their teens or early 20s, have triggered country's worst turmoil in years, forced KP Sharma Oli to resign as prime minister on Tuesday, and has led to several names floating as the contenders for the interim PM post.

The death toll has since risen to 34 and more than 1,300 were injured, a Reuters report said, citing Nepal's health ministry.

Nepal news live: About 60 people, most of them suspected of having escaped during jailbreaks from Nepal amid unrest in the country, were caught by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) that guards the India-Nepal border, an official said on Thursday.

The 60 people include a Bangladeshi national.

All of them were nabbed from various locations along the international front, PTI news agency quoted officials.

SSB troops caught them from border points in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal over the last two days, the officials said.

Nepal protests live: As per an update on the prohibition and curfew in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts. the curbs will remain in place from 11 am to 5 pm (local time) on Friday, September 12. Curfew will resume from 7 pm on September 12 till 6 am on September 13.

Nepal protests live: Former chief justice Sushila Karki, Kathmandu mayor annd rapper Balendra Shah, former CEO of Nepal Electricity Authority Kulman Ghising and mayor of Dharan Harka Sampang are reportedly among those being considered by the protesting Gen Z group to lead the government.

Nepal news live: Kulman Ghising, a former electricity board CEO, is now the main name doing the rounds for interim prime minister of Nepal to be picked by the protesting Gen Z group, on Thursday, two days after KP Sharma Oli stepped down amid raging protests against his government.

Kulman Ghising, widely credited for ending years of load-shedding in Nepal, is an electrical engineer by training. Read more on him here

Nepal news live: Once the tallest building in Nepal's Kathmandu, all that is now left of the Hilton hotel is charred ruins. The five-star property was set on fire on Tuesday by ‘Gen Z protesters’ agitating against the Nepal government and continued to burn for two consecutive days. Read more here

Nepal news live: Andhra Pradesh IT minister Nara Lokesh on Thursday said 144 Telugu people were safely airlifted from Kathmandu in a special flight to Visakhapatnam and Tirupati.

Nepal protest live: The curfew imposed in several Nepal cities, including Kathmandu, to control the situation, which will continue till Friday morning, as per a statement issued by the Nepalese Army.

Nepal protest live: The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has upped vigil on the India-Nepal border to ensure protection and curb infiltration of jail escapees from Nepal.

Following a fresh wave of violent clashes in Nepal, a curfew was imposed in several cities, including Kathmandu, to control the situation. According to a statement issued by the Nepalese Army, the curfew will continue until Friday morning.

The youth-led Gen Z group, which spearheaded the anti-government protests in Nepal, on Thursday said that Parliament must be dissolved and the Constitution should be amended to reflect the people's will.

Speaking on the occasion, the Gen Z activists underlined the need to find a solution through dialogue and cooperation.

Nepal's army on Thursday said it has recaptured nearly 200 prisoners after mass jailbreaks during deadly protests that toppled the government, a fraction of the thousands on the run.

Around 13,500 detainees escaped from prisons nationwide during the chaos, police said, leaving security forces scrambling to regain control.

Uttarakhand Police on Thursday reviewed the security arrangements along the Nepal border in Udham Singh Nagar and Champawat districts.

The Police Headquarters informed that in view of the violent incidents in neighbouring Nepal, IG Kumaon Riddhim Aggarwal reviewed the security arrangements along the Nepal border in Udham Singh Nagar and Champawat districts. She held discussions with the district in-charges of both districts as well as senior officials of the SSB.

Tensions escalated on Thursday outside the Nepali Army headquarters in Bhadrakali, as Gen Z protesters reportedly clashed over the proposed interim government.

The rival factions backing former chief justice Sushila Karki and Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah clashed at the gates of the Army complex, engaging in heated arguments over the future leadership of the movement.

Nepal's President Ramchandra Paudel Thursday appealed to all sides to cooperate in maintaining peace and said he was making efforts to find a solution to the current political situation within the constitutional framework.

Representatives of the protesting 'Gen Z' group, Nepalese President Ramchandra Paudel and Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel were holding talks at the army headquarters in Bhadrakali on Thursday to pick a leader to run an interim government, PTI reported, citing sources.

In the wake of growing public unrest, President Ramchandra Poudel has issued a heartfelt appeal to the people of Nepal, emphasising his commitment to finding a constitutional resolution to the country’s current challenges.

Addressing the nation, President Poudel stated, “Dear Nepali brothers and sisters, I am deliberating and making every effort to find a way out of the current difficult situation in the country within the constitutional framework and to protect democracy and maintain peace and order in the country.”

Nepal protest live updates: In a press briefing in Nepal's kathmandu, Gen-Z leader Diwakar Dangal says, "We are not capable of taking the leadership, and it will take us time to be mature enough to take the leadership. Attempts are being made to break us. Some of the party members have the misconception that they can infiltrate and create a division. This bloodshed is because of you (old leaders). If people start the bloodshed, then they would not survive. We don’t want bloodshed. We want to dissolve the parliament, but not to cancel the constitution," reported ANI.

Nepal protest live updates:The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), which patrols the India-Nepal border, has apprehended about 60 individuals suspected to have escaped from Nepalese prisons amid unrest, officials said, reported news agency PTI.

SSB troops caught them over the last two days at border points in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal. The detainees have been handed over to state police forces and are being questioned.

Officials added that two or three of those caught claim to be of Indian origin, and their identities are being verified.

Nepal protest live updates: A large number of truck operators remain stranded at the West Bengal-Nepal border at Panitanki in Darjeeling district due to ongoing curfew and unrest in Nepal.

SP Darjeeling Praveen Prakash told ANI, "Once all the services, including immigration and customs services, are restored in Nepal. Then, they (stranded trucks) can go there."

According to PTI, trade has also been affected at the Bahraich border in Uttar Pradesh, with several trucks unable to cross due to the Nepal curfew.

Nepal protest live updates: Haldwani Police have stepped up security near the Nepal border in response to the ongoing unrest in the neighbouring country, monitoring the situation closely, reported news agency PTI.

Nepal protest live updates: Nepal Army has been deployed along the route to the Parliament in Kathmandu as curfew remains in effect, ensuring security amid ongoing unrest in the capital.

Nepal protest live updates: Nepal’s army is set to resume talks on Thursday with “Gen Z” protesters to select an interim leader for the country, an army spokesperson told Reuters.

According to PTI sources, no final decision has yet been made on who will lead the interim government. Former chief justice Sushila Karki, Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah, and former electricity board CEO Kulman Ghising were among the names being considered by the Gen Z movement.

However, on Thursday morning, sources indicated that instead of Ghising, Harka Sampang, mayor of Dharan Municipality, is now being discussed alongside Karki and Shah as a potential interim leader.

Earlier, in a social media post, Balendra Shah extended his support to Karki for the next PM post.

Nepal protest live updates: Prisoners from Nepal’s Jaleshwar jail attempted to cross into India through the Sitamarhi border in Bihar, officials said Thursday.

Amit Ranjan, SP of Sitamarhi, said, "Following the jailbreak in Nepal’s Jaleshwar, an alert was sounded and 21 people have been detained. All police stations are on alert, and in view of the situation, buses and vehicles are being checked in Sitamarhi," reported PTI.