Hundreds of landless squatters staged protests in Kathmandu and other parts of Nepal against the government’s demolition drive
May 8, 2026: Hundreds of landless squatters on Friday staged protests in Kathmandu against the government’s demolition drive targeting informal settlements across the country. The protests came after authorities bulldozed more than 3,500 structures in Kathmandu and other districts over the past month as part of a campaign focused on beautification and environmental protection. Demonstrators gathered at Maitighar Mandala carrying empty plates and raising slogans demanding housing rights and an end to forced displacement.
The federal government and the Kathmandu Metropolitan City jointly cleared settlements in areas including Thapathali, Gairigaun, Manohara, Balaju, Anamnagar, Sinamangal and Kapan, reportedly displacing nearly 20,000 people. While some families were shifted to temporary holding centres in Kirtipur and Bhaktapur, many others remain without shelter despite the onset of pre-monsoon rains. The Supreme Court of Nepal recently directed the government to submit details of the procedures followed during the demolition operations in the Kathmandu Valley.
The protests also spread beyond Kathmandu, with demonstrations reported in Butwal and Kshireshwor Municipality in Dhanusha District, where protesters blocked roads and burned tyres. Opposition parties and civil society groups criticised the government led by Balendra Shah, alleging that thousands were evicted without proper rehabilitation plans or accurate data collection. Protesters accused the administration of using development and environmental protection as justification for mass displacement.