At least 19 people were killed and dozens injured on Monday as violent protests by youth rocked the Nepalese capital and certain other areas over the government’s decision to ban social media sites, prompting authorities to deploy the army in Kathmandu to control the situation.

Thousands of youth, including school students, under the banner of ‘Gen Z’, converged in front of the Parliament in the heart of Kathmandu and shouted anti-government slogans demanding immediate revocation of the ban. The Nepalese media put the death toll at 19. However, there is no official word on number of casualties yet. The demonstration turned violent when some protesters entered the Parliament complex, prompting police to resort to baton charges, tear gas shells and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd, eyewitnesses said.