‘Anarchists have infiltrated protests’: Nepali Army on nationwide violence

The Nepali Army on Wednesday said that “anarchist groups and persons” have infiltrated ongoing protests in the country and engaged in criminal activities like looting, vandalism, and attempted rape.

The statement came a day after protesters torched all three branches of the government in Kathmandu, the presidential residence, broke jails across the country, and set fire to homes of politicians and offices of political parties. There were widespread reports of looting and targeted violence attacks.

In the wake of such developments, the Nepali Army in a press release on Wednesday announced a daylong curfew until 6 am on Thursday.

निषेधाज्ञा तथा कर्फ्यू सम्बन्धमा नेपाली सेनाको अपिल ।#NepaliArmy #NationalUnity pic.twitter.com/NtGw7GVI9a

— Nepali Army (@NepaliArmyHQ) September 10, 2025

The Nepali Army on Tuesday evening took over law enforcement duties in Nepal after the police forces failed to contain the violence throughout the day and public trust in the police was over as at least 19 people had been killed the previous day in police crackdown on protesters.

The Nepali Army arrested 26 persons on Tuesday evening, including five persons who looted a branch of the largest commercial bank of Nepal, according to The Himalayan Times.

In the statement, the Army said that any instance of looting or vandalism will not be acceptable and offenders will be detained and prosecuted.

The Army further said, “During the prohibitory and curfew orders, vehicles providing essential services such as ambulances, hearses, fire trucks, and those for health workers and security personnel will be allowed to operate. All concerned parties are requested to coordinate with nearby security personnel for necessary assistance.”

In the widespread violence on Tuesday, mobs torched Nepal’s parliament, Singha Durbar (the seat of the government), Supreme Court, and a slew of government offices, including courthouses, across the country. They also broke several jails and freed hundreds of prisoners. They attacked the official presidential residence and the private home of PM KP Sharma Oli. They also attacked homes of former PMs Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Sher Bahadur Deuba, and Jhalanath Khanal.

In the attack on Deuba’s home, he and his wife, foreign minister Arzu Rana Deuba, were beaten. In the attack on Khanal’s home, his wife, Rajyalaxmi Chitrakar, was reportedly burnt to death. In another attack, at least three policemen were reportedly killed.