The District Administration Office, Kathmandu, has designated three locations for protests.
Kathmandu’s Chief District Officer Rishiram Tiwari issued an order permitting protests in only three designated areas of the district, as recommended by a meeting of the Kathmandu district security committee held on Sunday.
According to the order, the designated areas for protests are the Sifal ground area, the stretch south of the Koteshwar overpass toward Balkumari, and the Balkhu area.
Except for these locations, activities such as hunger strikes, sit-ins, picketing, processions, demonstrations, and assemblies for protests have been prohibited in other places of the district for a maximum of two months.
The order states, “Effective from June 2, 2025, protest programs such as hunger strikes, sit-ins, picketing, processions, demonstrations, and assemblies are prohibited for a maximum of two months, except in the specified locations.”
However, programs held in coordination with the administration will be allowed as per the specified guidelines.
Previously, the administration had declared certain areas as restricted zones. This time, however, it has designated specific locations for protests and prohibited demonstrations in all other areas of Kathmandu district.
“Protests are allowed in the areas specified in the order issued by the administration, but not elsewhere,” said Senior Superintendent of Police Bishwa Adhikari of the District Police Range, Kathmandu. “This is because permission from the administration is required for organizing a protest at a particular place, and security arrangements are made accordingly. However, protesting anywhere could pose security challenges, which is why such an order was issued.”
He added that the administration issued the order considering potential disruptions to commercial areas and traffic.
