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Warning: This article contains details of violence and images of deceased individuals.
Former police chief authorized deadly force against protesters
An internal police document obtained by the BBC reveals that Nepal's former police chief, Chandra Kuber Khapung, issued an order permitting lethal fire on unarmed demonstrators during last September's protests in Kathmandu. The directive came minutes after a curfew was imposed and followed repeated requests from officers for authorization to use live ammunition.
Nineteen killed, including a schoolboy shot in the back
Among the 19 fatalities on 8 September was 17-year-old Shreeyam Chaulagain, who was wearing his school uniform and walking away from the crowd when he was struck in the back of the head. Dozens more sustained injuries. The violence erupted during the so-called Gen Z demonstrations, which had been fueled by weeks of public anger over political corruption. The unrest triggered further protests, leading to the resignation of Nepal's prime minister and the collapse of the government the following day.
Leaked logs and insider accounts reconstruct the day
The BBC's investigation, which included analysis of over 4,000 videos and photographs, as well as testimonies from officers present, pieced together the events of one of Nepal's bloodiest days in recent history. The leaked police log shows that an individual using the call sign "Peter 1"-later identified as Khapung-issued the command to "deploy necessary force" at 12:40, just 10 minutes after the curfew took effect.
Khapung, who retired in November, has not denied issuing the order but claims it was authorized by a government security committee and followed legal protocols. Nepal Police stated that the decision was made by the committee chaired by senior civil servant Chhabi Lal Rijal. However, Rijal has denied in court that he approved the use of live rounds.
Protesters outnumbered police tenfold
The demonstrations began at 09:00 when thousands of young people gathered at Maitighar Mandala, a central Kathmandu intersection. Police had anticipated around 3,000 protesters but were overwhelmed by a crowd of approximately 30,000. Basanta Basnet, editor of Nepal's Online Khabar, noted that security officials underestimated the mobilization, particularly among Generation Z, who coordinated via the gaming platform Discord after the government banned social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube.
By 11:47, protesters breached a police barricade near parliament, and by 12:15, some had entered the parliamentary compound. Police responded with tear gas and batons, but the crowd did not disperse. Shreeyam Chaulagain, holding a banner reading "Youths Against Corruption," was captured on video outside the gates before being fatally shot.
Chaos in the command center
Security officials, including representatives from the police, army, and intelligence agencies, were monitoring the situation from a control room nearly 3 kilometers away. According to an anonymous officer, the command center lacked a stable internet connection and relied on CCTV feeds, which provided fragmented information. No single unit had a complete understanding of the unfolding crisis.
At 12:30, a curfew was declared, and officers used loudhailers to order protesters to leave. Instead, some demonstrators surrounded a police unit and threw bricks and stones. Footage shows the parliament gatehouse engulfed in flames. Panicked officers radioed the command center for permission to use live ammunition after non-lethal methods failed to disperse the crowd.
Shootings captured on video
The first fatality from live fire was recorded at 13:15. The BBC analyzed six shootings and found no evidence that the victims were engaged in violence. Shreeyam Chaulagain was seen walking away from the front line, clapping his hands, when he was shot in the back of the head at 14:09. At 14:21, police fired seven shots from inside the parliamentary complex, killing 24-year-old Yogendra Nyaupane. The last recorded shooting occurred around 16:00.
Aftermath and calls for accountability
The killings on 8 September sparked nationwide outrage. The following day, protests escalated into mob violence, with police stations set ablaze and three officers killed. In total, 77 people died during the unrest. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned on 9 September, and the government collapsed. The army took control by 21:00 as buildings burned across Kathmandu.
No one has been held accountable. Former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, ex-Prime Minister Oli, Khapung, and Rijal have all denied responsibility. Nepal Police stated they faced an "overwhelming situation" requiring simultaneous responses to multiple incidents.
"Our officers fired on them like they were enemies," one police officer told the BBC.
Families await justice
Shreeyam's mother, Karki, said she still expects him to return. "In my mind, he's in his school uniform. He'll return, swinging his bag," she said. A public inquiry into the events of 8 September is ongoing, but no findings have been released. Nepal's general elections are scheduled for 5 March.
Background: A frustrated generation
Nepal transitioned to a republic in 2008 after a decade-long civil war that claimed over 17,000 lives. Despite a new constitution promising reform, many young Nepalis say their hopes remain unfulfilled. Unemployment among youth is estimated at 20%. Frustration has been amplified online, particularly among Generation Z, who adopted terms like "nepo baby" to criticize the children of Nepal's elite.
