The Election Commission has written to the Press Council of Nepal, requesting the removal of a BBC documentary report covering the September 23–24, 2025, protests in Kathmandu, known as the Gen Z movement.
The documentary, published by BBC World Service and its Nepali service in both English and Nepali, focuses on the protests and includes claims that the then-police chief, Chandrakuber Khapung, ordered the use of firearms during the unrest. The Election Commission says the report could influence public perception ahead of the upcoming elections.
The Commission’s acting chief, Ram Prasad Bhandari, confirmed that a letter has been sent to the Press Council, asking for the content to be taken down. The move highlights ongoing concerns about media coverage of politically sensitive events in the lead-up to elections.
The BBC report has attracted attention online for its detailed coverage of the Gen Z protests, showing clashes between demonstrators and security forces. While the protests were widely reported at the time, the documentary revisits the events with interviews and footage, sparking renewed debate about accountability and the handling of security forces during mass demonstrations.
The Election Commission’s intervention comes amid heightened scrutiny of media reporting in the election period, as authorities aim to ensure that coverage does not affect voter behaviour or create unrest. The Press Council, which regulates media content in Nepal, will now review the Commission’s request and decide on the next steps.
This latest development underscores the tension between press freedom and electoral oversight, particularly when reporting revisits politically charged events from the recent past.