Injured Nepal Protesters Say Promised Change Has Not Arrived

Mukesh Awasti, a 22-year-old aspiring civil engineer, was preparing to leave for Australia in September when his life took a dramatic turn. Instead of boarding a flight, he joined Nepal’s youth-led protests against corruption — a decision that cost him his leg and, he says, his faith in the change the movement promised.

Awasti was shot during violent demonstrations in Kathmandu that erupted on September 8. He is now recovering at the National Trauma Center, where doctors were forced to amputate his leg. Speaking from his hospital bed, Awasti says the sacrifice made by him and many others has yielded little.

“I regret taking part in the protest,” he said. “There has been no real achievement. Corruption has not ended, and those who fired on protesters have not been arrested.”

The protests, largely driven by Gen Z activists, left at least 76 people dead and more than 2,300 injured. The unrest forced political change within days, culminating in the appointment of Nepal’s first female prime minister, Sushila Karki, a retired Supreme Court judge, on September 12. She promised fresh parliamentary elections in March.

However, months later, dissatisfaction is growing among the very protesters who helped bring the interim government to power.

So far, Nepal’s anti-graft agency has filed only one major corruption case, which does not include senior political leaders. Politicians accused by protesters are preparing for upcoming elections, while no cases have been filed against those in power during the deadly crackdown.

In recent weeks, dozens of injured demonstrators and families of victims have returned to the streets, protesting outside the prime minister’s office. Some of these demonstrations were dispersed by police.

“We are back on the streets because the government failed us,” said Suman Bohara, who now walks on crutches after suffering a shattered foot during the protests. “Families lost loved ones, many were injured, but nothing has been done.”

The protests initially began over widespread corruption, unemployment, poor governance, and a ban on social media. Demonstrators attempted to enter parliament and were met with gunfire. Within days, unrest spread nationwide, with angry mobs burning government buildings and forcing top leaders to flee by army helicopters.

The army later restored order, and negotiations led to the formation of the interim government, whose primary mandate is to hold elections.

Prime Minister Karki has reiterated her commitment to conducting polls on March 5. “Our preparations are nearly complete, and the security situation has improved significantly,” she said.

Yet divisions within the protest movement persist. Some groups demand immediate action, including arresting all corrupt politicians and scrapping the constitution. Others believe elections are the only path forward.

Analysts say the lack of a unified vision among Gen Z protesters has weakened the movement.

“The confusion stems from unclear demands and uncertainty about how the interim government was formed,” said Abeeral Thapa, principal of Polygon College of Journalism in Kathmandu. He added that Nepal’s constitution does not clearly provide for an interim government, further complicating the situation.

With doubts growing over whether elections can be held as planned, experts say polls remain the only viable option — even as public trust continues to erode.