Kathmandu, Nepal – The escalating chaos in Nepal took a tragic turn as the wife of a former prime minister, Rabi Laxmi Chitrakar, died after protesters set fire to their home. The incident is a grim escalation of the ongoing “Gen Z” led protests that have rocked the nation, leaving over 20 dead and pushing the country into a state of emergency.
The attack occurred on Tuesday when a group of demonstrators stormed the residence of former Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal in Dallu. According to family members, the protesters allegedly forced her inside the home before setting it ablaze. She was rushed to Kirtipur Burn Hospital with severe injuries but later succumbed to her burns.
This tragic event comes amid a wave of violence targeting high-profile political figures and government buildings. The protests, which began as a response to a government social media ban, have since morphed into a powerful anti-corruption and anti-nepotism movement led by the nation’s youth.
In recent days, the private residences of several other political leaders have also been set on fire, including that of now-resigned Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Communications Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung, and Deputy Prime Minister Bishnu Paudel. The homes of President Ram Chandra Poudel, and former Prime Ministers Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Sher Bahadur Deuba have also been targeted. In a separate incident, former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife, Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, were reportedly assaulted at their residence.
The government’s attempts to de-escalate the situation, including lifting the social media ban and the resignation of Prime Minister Oli, have failed to quell the unrest. The army has appealed to the public for calm, but with the death toll rising and the protests turning increasingly violent, the country remains on a knife’s edge.
