The ban on social media raised after 19 killed in demonstrations

Nepal has raised a ban on social media, which sparked demonstrations and led to clashes with the police who made at least 19 people who died and injured more than 100 others.

In the weeks preceding the ban, a “Kid Nepo” campaign, highlighting the sumptuous lifestyles of the children of politicians and the allegations of corruption, had taken off on social networks.

When the government moved to ban 26 social media platforms, including Facebook and YouTube, demonstrations broke out with thousands of young people on Monday in the capital Kathmandu. Several districts are now under a curfew.

A Minister of the Government said they had raised the ban after an emergency meeting late Monday evening to “respond to generation Z requests”.

Last week, the government of Nepal ordered the authorities to block 26 social media platforms not to comply with a deadline to register for the Ministry of Nepal Communication and Information Technologies.

Platforms such that Instagram and Facebook have millions of users in Nepal, who are on them for entertainment, news and business.

But the government had justified its ban, implemented last week, in the name of the fight against the news, hatred speeches and online fraud.

The young people who went down to the street on Monday said they were also protesting against what they considered the authoritarian attitude of the government. Many have held up slogans, including “enough it is quite” and “end to corruption”.

Some demonstrators have launched stones in the house of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in his hometown Damak.

A demonstrator, Sabana Budathoki, said previously to the BBC that the ban on social media was “just the reason” that they had gathered.

“Rather than (the ban on social media, I think everyone focuses on corruption,” she said, adding: “We want our country to come back. We came to stop corruption.”

Katmandu police had pulled water, batons and rubber bullets on Monday to disperse the demonstrators on Monday.

Prime Minister Oli said he was “deeply saddened” by the toll of violence and victims, and blamed the events of the day to “infiltration by various acquired interest groups”.

The government would set up a panel to investigate demonstrations, he said, adding that it would also offer financial “relief” to the families of those who died and free treatment to the injured.

The Minister of the Interior, Ramesh Lekhak, submitted his resignation Monday evening following intense criticisms concerning the use of the strength of his administration during the demonstrations.