Nepali Army Announces Prohibitory and Curfew Orders

The Nepali Army has extended prohibitory orders nationwide until 5 PM today, to be followed by a curfew until 6 AM Thursday, September 11. Further decisions will be made after reviewing the situation.

In a statement, the Army said unruly groups, under the cover of protests, have carried out arson, looting, and vandalism of public and private property. It also warned of potential violent assaults on individuals, including attempted rapes and other serious crimes.

The Army has called on citizens to cooperate in curbing violence, cautioning that any demonstrations, vandalism, arson, looting, or attacks on people and property will be treated as punishable offences and met with strict action.

Essential services will remain operational during the curfew, including ambulances, hearses, fire trucks, health workers’ vehicles, and security forces. The Army urged the public to coordinate with security personnel for necessary assistance. It also appealed to retired soldiers, civil servants, journalists, and the general public not to spread or follow rumours, but to rely only on official information.

Relative Calm in Kathmandu

With heavy security deployment, including army personnel, the Kathmandu Valley remained largely calm Wednesday morning. Streets were nearly deserted, and security forces focused on extinguishing fires set on dozens of properties. The Army urged citizens to report incidents of vandalism immediately.

At least 21 people were arrested Tuesday night for looting in Bouddha, Hotel Hyatt, and Bhatbhateni Supermarket in Radheradhe, Bhaktapur. Five others were detained over a heist at Rastriya Banijya Bank in New Baneshwar.

Institutions Under Attack

On Tuesday, protesters launched coordinated attacks on the state’s core institutions. Singha Durbar, the seat of the executive, the Federal Parliament building in New Baneshwar, and the Supreme Court were set ablaze. Demonstrators also vandalised the Special Court, Kathmandu District Court, and the Office of the Auditor General.

According to Supreme Court Assistant Spokesperson Nirajan Pandey, protesters removed documents from the Special and District Courts before setting them on fire.

Houses of political leaders were vandalised and torched.

Violence Nationwide

Unrest spread to Jhapa, where more than a dozen government offices were torched. The homes of senior leaders—including UML chair KP Sharma Oli, Nepali Congress general secretary Bishwo Prakash Sharma, former NC leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula, and Koshi Province Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki—were also targeted.

Residences of lawmakers, local officials, and offices of UML, Nepali Congress, and CPN (Maoist Centre) were vandalised despite a prohibitory order issued by the Jhapa District Administration Office.

Lamichhane Freed, Mass Resignations to Follow

In Lalitpur, protesters freed Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) chair Rabi Lamichhane from Nakkhu Jail. Jail chief Satyaraj Joshi said Lamichhane, who was in custody over a cooperative fraud case, was released to prevent escalation after large crowds surrounded the facility.

RSP lawmakers have announced mass resignations. Acting chair Dol Prasad Aryal said the decision had been endorsed by the party Secretariat. A statement from the RSP Parliamentary Party confirmed that 20 lawmakers, including Lamichhane, would resign. The party currently holds 21 seats in the House of Representatives, including the Deputy Speaker.

The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) followed suit, with spokesperson Mohan Kumar Shrestha declaring that its lawmakers at both federal and provincial levels would resign en masse. He said recent events had rendered the government, parliament, and constitution irrelevant.