At least 13 people have been killed and dozens are injured in Nepal after demonstrations against a government social media ban led to clashes between protesters and security forces.
Thousands heeded a call by demonstrators describing themselves as Generation Z to gather near the parliament building in Kathmandu over the decision to ban platforms including Facebook, X, and YouTube.
Nepal's Minister for Communication Prithvi Subba told the BBC police had had to use force - which included water cannons, batons, and firing rubber bullets.
The government has stated that social media platforms need to be regulated to tackle fake news, hate speech, and online fraud.
However, popular platforms such as Instagram have millions of users in Nepal, who rely on them for entertainment, news, and business.
Demonstrators carried placards with slogans including enough is enough and end to corruption. Some voiced their protests against the government's authoritarian approach.
The rally intensified as it moved closer to a restricted area near parliament, leading to police employing tear gas and water cannons.
A curfew was imposed around critical areas following attempts by protesters to breach barricades. The government previously ordered the blocking of 26 social media platforms for failing to comply with registration requirements.
Since the ban, users have struggled to access the affected sites, although some are resorting to VPNs to bypass restrictions. So far, two platforms have managed to reactivate their services after complying with the government's deadlines.
Nepal's administration argues that the regulation of social media is not a ban but a way to align with local laws.
