Protesters Torch Homes of Nepal’s President and Top Leaders Amid Escalating Unrest

On Tuesday, September 9, 2025, the unrest in Nepal entered an alarming phase when angry demonstrators shifted their campaign from the streets to the private residences of the country’s leading political figures. What had started as mass protests against the government’s controversial decision to restrict social media platforms turned into direct assaults on both serving and former leaders. In this wave of violence, protesters stormed, vandalized, and in several cases set fire to the homes of powerful personalities. The homes of President Ram Chandra Poudel, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, Nepali Congress President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda” were all targeted. These incidents demonstrate how a movement sparked by censorship concerns has quickly escalated into attacks on symbols of authority and leadership. The details of these attacks are outlined below:

President Ram Chandra Poudel’s Residence

The official residence of President Ram Chandra Poudel, located in the Sanepa area of Lalitpur near Kathmandu, came under siege by protesters on September 9. The mob set fire to sections of the building and destroyed property inside and around the premises. This attack on the sitting head of state’s home marks one of the boldest and most aggressive acts of the ongoing unrest, highlighting the demonstrators’ determination to confront the highest levels of government authority. Despite the arson, reports confirmed that the President and his family were safe.

[Sources: AP, NDTV, Deccan Chronicle]

Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s House

On the same day, Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s private residence in Balkot, Bhaktapur, on the outskirts of the Kathmandu Valley, was also engulfed in flames. Large groups of protesters, particularly from the Gen Z movement, stormed the compound and set it ablaze. Witnesses reported smoke billowing from the premises as demonstrators chanted slogans denouncing government repression. Oli’s home, being outside the capital’s core, symbolized an attempt by protesters to extend the movement beyond central Kathmandu. The Prime Minister was not inside at the time, and no casualties were reported.

[Sources: Economic Times, NDTV, India Today]

Sher Bahadur Deuba’s Residence

The home of Sher Bahadur Deuba, a former Prime Minister and current president of the Nepali Congress, located in Budhanilkantha north of Kathmandu, was also targeted. Protesters vandalized the property by pelting stones and damaging sections of the compound. Although no fire was reported, the attack demonstrated that even leaders outside the ruling government were not spared from public anger. The targeting of Deuba reflects the depth of frustration against the entire political establishment, regardless of party affiliation.

[Sources: NDTV, The Himalayan Times]

Former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak’s House

In Balkhu, Kathmandu, the residence of Ramesh Lekhak, a former Home Minister, was set ablaze. Protesters attacked the house with fire and destructive force, leaving visible damage to the building. Lekhak’s role as a former interior minister made him a symbolic target, as demonstrators associated him with state mechanisms of law and order. The fire underscored the protesters’ strategy of sending a message not just to current officeholders but also to those linked with past administrations.

[Sources: The Himalayan Times, Khabarhub]

Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda’s” House

The residence of Pushpa Kamal Dahal, widely known as Prachanda and a former Prime Minister, was also attacked on September 9. His house in Sanepa, Lalitpur, came under intense stone pelting and vandalism by furious demonstrators. Although the residence was not fully set on fire, the assault left visible destruction around the compound. Prachanda’s history as a Maoist leader and his long tenure in Nepali politics made his home an especially symbolic target. The attack represented the deepening hostility toward veteran leaders whom protesters accuse of failing to deliver reforms and accountability.

[Sources: NDTV]

 

Overall Situation

While all these attacks caused heavy property damage and symbolized a direct challenge to Nepal’s political elite, reports confirmed that no casualties or injuries occurred inside the leaders’ residences. The political figures and their families remained safe, though their homes were left charred, vandalized, and damaged. These assaults on private residences marked a dramatic escalation from earlier demonstrations, which had focused on clashes with security forces in public spaces.

At the national level, the unrest has been deadly: at least 19 protesters have been killed and more than 100 injured in recent days, mainly from police firing and clashes near the parliament building. However, inside the homes that were set on fire or attacked, no lives were lost, underscoring that the assaults were primarily acts of symbolic violence aimed at the political class rather than deliberate attempts to harm individuals.

Together, these incidents show how Nepal’s protests—initially provoked by the banning of popular social media platforms—have expanded into a broader revolt against corruption, political stagnation, and decades of leadership seen as out of touch with public grievances. By taking the fight to the very homes of sitting and former leaders, the demonstrators have signaled that their movement is no longer confined to the streets but has reached directly into the private domains of power.

 

STANCE:

The United Nations human rights office, through spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani, said they were “shocked by the killings and injury of protesters in Nepal today” and urged a “prompt and transparent investigation” into the use of force (September 9, 2025; reported by The Guardian).

A joint statement from the embassies of Australia, Finland, France, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Norway, Germany, and the United States in Kathmandu expressed they were “deeply saddened by the violence,” and called for all parties to exercise “maximum restraint” while ensuring protection of fundamental rights (September 9, 2025; reported by Reuters and Indian Express). 

QUESTIONS:

We do appreciate if you would answer the following question/s with reference of question number/s in the comments section:

Q. No. 1: Will the government take stronger security measures to protect political leaders’ residences after these attacks?

Q. No. 2: How will these assaults on private homes affect Nepal’s already fragile political stability?

Q. No. 3: Could the targeting of leaders’ residences push the authorities toward declaring a state of emergency?

Q. No. 4: What role might the army play if police forces fail to contain the escalating unrest?

Q. No. 5: Will international organizations or neighboring countries intervene diplomatically in response to the violence?

Q. No. 6: How do the families of these leaders view the attacks, and where are they staying now for safety?

Q. No. 7: Can dialogue between Gen Z protesters and Nepal’s political leadership still be achieved after such confrontations?

Q. No. 8: What impact will the destruction of private residences have on public trust in Nepal’s political system?

Q. No. 9: Could these incidents trigger resignations or major leadership changes within Nepal’s government?

Q. No. 10: Is there a possibility that protesters will target additional figures or institutions in the coming days? 

BACKGROUND:

The protests in Nepal stemmed from widespread outrage over the government’s sudden decision to block access to more than two dozen major social media platforms, including X, Facebook, WhatsApp, and YouTube. Officials justified the ban by claiming it was necessary to curb misinformation and maintain public order, but large sections of the population—especially the younger generation known as Gen Z—viewed it as an attack on freedom of expression and digital rights. This frustration was further fueled by long-standing grievances over corruption, unemployment, and the perception that political leaders had consistently failed to deliver meaningful reforms. The situation quickly escalated as demonstrators, already angry at the government’s handling of economic challenges and inequality, saw the ban as the final trigger that exposed deeper issues of mismanagement and authoritarian tendencies. What began as a digital rights protest soon evolved into a broader movement questioning the legitimacy and accountability of Nepal’s ruling elite. 

RELATED LINKS:

Nepal Ends Social Media Ban Amid Deadly Anti-Corruption Protests 

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