Injured Gen Z Protesters Say They Want to See a Well-Governed Nepal

Kathmandu / Sept. 08: Injured participants of the Gen Z-led protest have said they want to see a Nepal free from corruption and governed with accountability, while urging the state to address their demands and ensure proper treatment for those injured during the movement.

Twenty-six-year-old Madan Karki had joined the Gen Z movement on September 8 last year after receiving information about the protest through social media. Today, he has difficulty moving his left hand after being shot under his left armpit during the demonstrations.

Recalling the incident of September 8, 2025, Karki said the protest at the Parliament premises in Baneshwor intensified and the situation became increasingly difficult to control.

“That day, the situation at the Parliament premises in Baneshwor became tense as the protest intensified. Some unruly elements disrupted the crowd. While we were repeatedly asking people not to throw stones, the police began firing tear gas. At around 1:30 p.m., I was shot in the nerve area under my left armpit,” he said.

Karki said those injured during the Gen Z movement are still going through painful circumstances.

“I used to work in photo and video editing. Things are very difficult now. Still, I am continuing editing work with one hand. My hand keeps burning and I experience constant pain because of the nerve damage,” he said. “Those who died became martyrs, while we, the living injured, have to endure the consequences every moment.”

Similarly, Sanjeev Kumar Jha had joined the Gen Z movement demanding an end to corruption and the establishment of good governance. He was seriously injured after police allegedly beat him during the demonstration in Kalimati.

Sanjeev’s brother, Rajiv Jha, said the family of Gen Z protesters who were injured is deeply concerned about the protection and dignity of Nepali citizens.

“Our anger, on behalf of the families of the injured Gen Z protesters, is that the security of Nepali citizens must be ensured. The state must provide citizens with a proper and dignified basis for living,” he said.

Sanjeev was also involved as a volunteer in supporting victims of the Bhotekoshi flood in Rasuwa. However, after falling ill again, he was admitted to a hospital, where he is currently receiving treatment.

Rajiv expressed concern that the state appears to be becoming increasingly indifferent to the demands and issues of those injured during the Gen Z movement. He said all the injured protesters want to see a well-governed Nepal.

“Our brothers and sisters came out onto the streets. They were beaten, shot and some sacrificed their lives for the issues they were raising. Unless those issues are addressed, neither will the souls of the martyrs find peace nor will the sacrifices of their families be properly recognized,” he said. “Those who have suffered permanent disabilities are still waiting for their pain to be addressed.”

Likewise, 28-year-old Uday Prakash Shah had also joined the Gen Z movement demanding good governance in the country. He marched from Maitighar to Baneshwor, where he was shot in his left leg during the firing at the Parliament premises.

“Some of our friends were also shot at that time, and I was hit as well. After the bullet struck my leg, I fell down and my leg was covered in blood. I lost consciousness. My friends then carried me to the Trauma Centre,” Shah recalled.

Shah continues to have difficulty walking. His problems include swelling in his leg, an inability to walk for long periods and difficulty lifting heavy objects.

He has also called on the government to ensure quality medical treatment for those injured during the Gen Z movement.

“This is a Gen Z government. It needs to understand the pain of the injured and the martyrs of the Gen Z movement and come closer to understand what we are going through,” he said. “There are still injured friends who are in comas, while some are still unable to use their hands properly. I continue to have pain in my leg.”

He urged the government to provide treatment within Nepal if possible and arrange treatment abroad if the required medical care is not available in the country.

“Our hands and legs are our means of earning a livelihood,” Shah said.

He also suggested that providing injured protesters with access to concessional loans could help them rebuild their livelihoods and address the problem of unemployment.