Ex-Nepal PM’s wife dies after protesters set their home on fire

She was taken to Kirtipur Burn Hospital but succumbed to her injuries, according to family sources.

10 Sep 2025 05:13pm
A protester wields a firearm as demonstrators gather outside the Singha Durbar palace complex during a protest to condemn the police's deadly crackdown on demonstrators in Kathmandu on Sept 9, a day after demonstrations over social media prohibitions and corruption by the government. (Photo by Prabin RANABHAT / AFP)
A protester wields a firearm as demonstrators gather outside the Singha Durbar palace complex during a protest to condemn the police's deadly crackdown on demonstrators in Kathmandu on Sept 9, a day after demonstrations over social media prohibitions and corruption by the government. (Photo by Prabin RANABHAT / AFP)

DHAKA - Rajyalaxmi Chitrakar, wife of former Nepalese Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal, was tragically killed when protesters, led by Generation Z activists, trapped her inside their house in the Dallu area of Kathmandu and set it ablaze, United News of Bangladesh (UNB) reported.

She was taken to Kirtipur Burn Hospital but succumbed to her injuries, according to family sources.

This incident happened amid widespread protests in Kathmandu against a brief government ban on social media platforms. The unrest, fuelled by anger over political corruption and nepotism, escalated as demonstrators targeted homes of top leaders, including Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, whose residence was also set on fire.

Following violent clashes, including police firing on crowds that resulted in 19 deaths, Prime Minister Oli resigned. Videos surfaced showing his finance minister, Bishnu Prasad Paudel, being violently attacked in the streets.

The protests began after the government blocked Facebook, X, and YouTube, citing failure by these platforms to comply with registration and regulatory demands.

Many young protesters are particularly frustrated by the privileged lifestyles of politicians' children, known as "Nepo Kids”, while many youth face unemployment and hardship. - BERNAMA-UNB

Related Articles:

Download Sinar Daily application.Click Here!