Nepal blocked access to several social media platforms, including Facebook, last week after they failed to register with authorities in a crackdown on misuse.
The government said social media users with fake IDs have been spreading hate speech and fake news, and committing fraud and other crimes via some platforms.
Authorities imposed a curfew around the parliament building after thousands of the protesters tried to enter the legislature by breaking a police barricade.
“We have imposed a curfew which will remain in force until 10 p.m. local time (1615 GMT) to bring the situation under control after protesters began to turn violent,“ Muktiram Rijal, a spokesperson for the Kathmandu district office, Reuters news agency reported.
Police had orders to use water cannons, batons and rubber bullets to control the crowd, Rijal said.
Earlier on Monday, thousands of youths, including students, many in their school or college uniforms and carrying the national flag and placards, were stopped by police who erected a barbed wire barricade, from marching towards the parliament building, where demonstrations are not allowed.
Protesters carried placards carrying slogans such as “Shut down corruption and not social media”, “Unban social media”, and “Youths against corruption”, as they marched through Kathmandu.
MA/PR
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