Nepal Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel was chased, beaten, and kicked by protesters in Kathmandu, symbolizing the fury against corruption and misrule.
BY PC Bureau
September 9, 2025 – Nepal’s political order collapsed into anarchy on Tuesday as Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli fled the capital in a military helicopter, reportedly seeking temporary asylum in Dubai under the guise of medical treatment. His dramatic escape came just hours after resigning, triggered by Gen Z-led protests that have left at least 19 dead and more than 400 injured.
The day’s violence escalated further when Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel was brutally assaulted by demonstrators who chased him through Kathmandu’s streets, beating and kicking him in scenes captured on viral video.
What began as fury over a now-lifted social media ban has spiraled into a full-fledged anti-corruption revolt, with protesters storming government buildings, torching residences—including Oli’s own home in Bhaktapur—and defying an indefinite curfew. Eyewitnesses saw Oli’s helicopter lifting off from Singha Durbar, the prime minister’s office, as black smoke rose from burning tires and vandalized structures.
Sources confirmed Oli, 73, had coordinated with Nepal Army Chief Gen. Ashok Raj Sigdel for extraction. An aircraft from Himalaya Airlines was on standby at Tribhuvan International Airport, but the facility was abruptly shut down amid unrest, grounding hundreds of flights, including those from Indian carriers. Oli’s Dubai-bound flight, framed as a medical evacuation, has fueled speculation of political asylum—drawing comparisons to recent upheavals in Bangladesh.
READ: Nepal PM KP Sharma O li Resigns Amid Deadly Gen Z Uprising
READ: Nepal Protesters Set Ablaze Parliament, Narayanhiti Museum, Palaces, and Homes
“The Prime Minister’s exit was not just resignation, but abdication in the face of a youth revolution,” noted political analyst Yubaraj Ghimire.
🚨🇳🇵Reports of Nepal’s Finance Minister being chased by a mob in Kathmandu
Meanwhile, footage of former PM Sher Bahadur Deuba & wife, FM Arzu Rana Deuba, left bloodied amid chaos arises
WSJ reported that now former PM Oli stayed in Kathmandu, in safety pic.twitter.com/Bkat1DNLGW
— Lisa Singh (@YakushinaLisa) September 9, 2025
Meanwhile, the attack on Finance Minister Paudel has become emblematic of public rage. Viral clips show the minister, a key Oli ally, stumbling as protesters shouted “Corrupt thieves, leave the country!” before being punched, kicked, and pelted with stones. Paudel was later rescued by security forces and flown to safety; he is said to be stable.
The unrest reflects deeper grievances over corruption, nepotism, and economic stagnation, particularly youth unemployment exceeding 20%. Over the past two days, mobs have torched homes of senior leaders, vandalized party headquarters, and stormed luxury hotels tied to ruling elites.
🚨🇳🇵Reports of Nepal’s Finance Minister being chased by a mob in Kathmandu
Meanwhile, footage of former PM Sher Bahadur Deuba & wife, FM Arzu Rana Deuba, left bloodied amid chaos arises
WSJ reported that now former PM Oli stayed in Kathmandu, in safety pic.twitter.com/Bkat1DNLGW
— Lisa Singh (@YakushinaLisa) September 9, 2025
The protests erupted on September 5, when Oli’s government blocked 26 social media platforms—including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and X—alienating a generation that uses these as lifelines. Even after the ban was reversed, momentum grew. Police use of live fire on September 8, killing 17 in Kathmandu and two elsewhere, only hardened the uprising.
International concern is mounting. The UN and Amnesty International condemned excessive force, while India placed its border on alert and issued advisories for its citizens. China has remained silent.
As Oli takes refuge abroad and ministers flee under army escort, Nepal stands at a dangerous crossroads: a collapsing government, paralyzed economy, and an energized youth movement demanding nothing short of systemic change.
