Violent protests leave 34 dead, 1,368 others injured in Nepal

KARACHI / ISTANBUL

The death toll from violent protests since early this week in Nepal has jumped to 34, while 1,368 others were injured, the Himalayan nation’s Ministry of Health and Population said Thursday.

Of 1,368 injured people, 949 people have been discharged, said ministry spokesman Dr. Prakash Budhathoki, according to the OnlineKhabar news outlet.

He added the toll is based on data collected from across the nation.

Nepal has witnessed dramatic changes since Monday, when protests rocked the landlocked nation following a ban on social media. The “Gen Z” protesters launched a wider movement against alleged corruption that ousted the government of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

Deliberations are underway to establish an interim administration.

The army has assumed command of security in the country after protests forced Oli to resign.

Nepalese soldiers have been deployed across the nation amid curfew to restore law and order.

At least two people were killed early Thursday when the army opened fire to foil a jailbreak.

The latest jailbreak attempt occurred in the Ramechhap district of Bagmati province when prisoners broke through several internal locks and tried to smash open the main gate before security forces fired.

Police said the situation is under control and no inmates could escape.

According to Nepal Police Central spokesman Binod Ghimire, “14,307 prisoners have escaped from various prisons across the country” during the protests, Nepal Press reported on Thursday.

Protesting youth have chosen former Chief Justice Sushila Karki in an online poll as a candidate for the head of the interim government.

But a final decision is yet to be made.