HRW report finds Police fired directly at peaceful Gen-Z protesters, Violated basic crowd-control protocols

KATHMANDU: A new investigation by Human Rights Watch (HRW) has concluded that Nepal’s security forces fired directly at peaceful Gen-Z protesters, violating internationally accepted crowd-control norms and failing to follow even basic domestic legal requirements for the use of lethal force.

The report, released from New York, paints a disturbing picture of unpreparedness, mismanagement, panic, and direct targeting, leading to some of the deadliest episodes of state-citizen confrontation in recent history.

HRW says police failed to design any meaningful security strategy for the scale of the movement, lost their composure once crowds advanced, and fired live ammunition at people who posed “no immediate or grave threat.” Analysis of testimonies, video footage, medical records, and eyewitness accounts indicates that even protesters running away from clashes were hit in the back as police fired without warning.

Police Fired at Protesters Despite No Immediate Threat

According to HRW, its researchers interviewed survivors, eyewitnesses, medical staff, and families of those killed during the Gen-Z uprising roughly two and a half months ago. The organization found that live rounds hit individuals who were not attacking police, were attempting to retreat, or were simply caught in panic after chaotic crowd surges.

Multiple injured youths told HRW that bullets struck the back side of their bodies, indicating they were moving away from the direction of firing. The organization concluded that there was “no situation of grave and immediate danger to security forces” that could have justified lethal force, as required under both Nepali law and UN standards.

The report is structured around five major concerns, all of which point toward systemic failures:

1. Failure to Anticipate the Crowd: A State Apparatus Unprepared

HRW states the government failed to assess the scale of the initial Gen-Z gathering. Despite days of online mobilization — particularly on Discord — authorities did not implement adequate advance planning.

A retired Nepali police official interviewed by the HRW team said that had there been “proper preparation and assessment of crowd size,” police could have managed the situation “without resorting to lethal force.” Instead, HRW concludes, the state treated the event with institutional complacency, miscalculating its momentum and ignoring the digital indicators of mass participation.

2. No Warning Before Fire: Basic Crowd-Control Norms Ignored

A central conclusion of the HRW study is that police gave no warning before opening fire. Some officers reportedly began shooting within five minutes of curfew being announced — at a time when many protesters had no idea that prohibitory orders had been imposed.

Testimonies from journalists reveal that several reporters present at the scene had not heard the curfew notice. One journalist said that “within an hour, the atmosphere shifted from calm to extremely dangerous,” with bullets flying near them without prior announcements.

3. Lethal Force Used Without Justification

International standards allow the use of deadly force only when an officer’s life is in imminent danger. HRW found the opposite: security forces fired even when no threat existed, and in some instances, even used ambulances as cover to shoot at protesters.

Video analysis and witness interviews confirm that police and Armed Police Force personnel shot from extremely close range — sometimes from as little as three meters. Such distance, experts say, amplifies lethality.

A retired officer quoted in the report said that Nepal Police failed to follow both national and UN protocols for lethal-force engagement, including mandatory verbal warnings.

4. Targeted, Close-Range, and Lethal Hits

HRW documented numerous cases where police fired live rounds aimed at the head, chest, and abdomen — all lethal zones.

Many of the 47 bodies examined showed bullet wounds to vital organs. Out of those, HRW says 35 deaths were caused directly by gunshot wounds.

Hundreds more were injured. Hospitals were overwhelmed:

One chilling account describes police shooting a teenage girl at 1:45 PM, during a period witnesses said was relatively calm, contradicting police claims of violent escalation.

5. Police Lost Control the Next Day; Widespread Destruction Followed

HRW concludes that lack of strategic planning and the shock of the first day’s violence left the state completely unprepared for the explosive aftermath on the second day. It states security forces failed to intervene effectively as arson, vandalism, and targeted attacks spread across the capital.

The second day saw:

HRW notes that not all second-day participants were part of the original Gen-Z movement; many appeared to be opportunistic actors who joined purely to loot, burn, or settle vendettas.

Three Hours of “Indiscriminate Gunfire” on the First Day

HRW states that on the first day alone — 23 Bhadra — police fired live rounds for nearly three continuous hours around the Parliament area.

Seventeen people died from gunshot wounds that day; the total death toll later reached 22.

The report cites multiple videos showing that police used “metal projectiles” and “direct lethal force,” including shots aimed at protesters’ heads and chests. A number of protesters were seen collapsing instantly after being hit.

According to accounts, the first shooting occurred around 12:30 PM, just minutes after protesters crossed a barricade at Baneshwor.

The Death of 17-Year-Old Shreyom Chaulagain: A Symbol of Excessive Force

One of the most heartbreaking cases in the report is the killing of 17-year-old Shreyom Chaulagain, who had arrived in school uniform.

Witnesses say he was clapping above his head and walking toward Parliament when a gunshot cracked — his head jerked, and he collapsed instantly.

Shadow analysis by HRW’s video forensics team confirms the shooting happened around 2 PM.

Footage shows other protesters trying desperately to stop the blood pouring from the back of his head. He died before reaching medical help.

Eyewitnesses Describe Police Shooting from Behind Barricades and Ambulances

Several protesters told HRW that police hid behind:

One eyewitness reported that when a group of protesters tried to advance toward Singha Durbar, police from the Special Task Force fired point-blank, aiming directly at individuals.

In another video reviewed by HRW, security personnel are seen firing two rounds, after which a protester collapses on a police barricade, bleeding heavily from the head.

Police Detained, Beat, and Threatened Protesters — Even in Hospitals

One group of 33 protesters was detained near Singha Durbar and allegedly beaten and threatened by Special Task Force officers. HRW cites testimonies indicating that:

HRW says the escalation on 24 Bhadra cannot be seen solely as public outrage. Evidence shows organized groups participated in vandalism and arson.

Examples:

Assailants carried khukuris, petrol, and batons. Some were seen disabling CCTV cameras before breaking into buildings.

Singha Durbar Assault

Witnesses described a group of 10–15 armed bikers leading an attack. They reportedly siphoned petrol from motorbikes to create improvised firebombs.

HRW says the commission’s “success or failure” will depend on its willingness to prosecute those responsible for unlawful killings and second-day organized violence.

A Turning Point in Nepal’s Human Rights Record

The HRW report frames the Gen-Z crackdown as a historic moment that has exposed deep flaws in Nepal’s policing, crisis preparation, and political response mechanisms.

It underscores:

HRW stresses that unless the government ensures thorough accountability, the Gen-Z protests will remain a “critical test” of Nepal’s commitment to human rights, democratic freedoms, and rule of law.