Rabi Laxmi Chitrakar, wife of former Nepalese prime minister Jhalanath Khanal, has died after protesters set fire to their residence in Kathmandu.
Gatekeepers News reports that the protests, led largely by young Nepalis, have spread across Kathmandu and other major cities.
The incident occurred on Tuesday in the Dallu area of the capital, where demonstrators reportedly trapped her inside the house before igniting the blaze. Chitrakar was rushed to Kirtipur Burn Hospital in critical condition but later succumbed to severe injuries.
Her death comes amid escalating youth-led protests, which entered their second day despite the government’s decision to lift a controversial ban on social media platforms.
Demonstrators are demanding the resignation of government officials over corruption, nepotism, and economic stagnation.
Since the unrest began on Monday, at least 22 people have been killed and more than 300 injured. Amnesty International has accused Nepalese police of using live ammunition on protesters.
Videos circulating online showed petrol bombs being thrown at the homes of senior politicians, including K.P. Sharma Oli, Sher Bahadur Deuba, another former prime minister, and Pushpa Kamal Dahal, chairman of the Maoist Centre. Key government sites such as Singh Durbar, the central administrative complex, and Sheetal Niwas, the presidential residence, were also targeted.
Amid the mounting violence, Oli, 73, resigned in a letter to the president on Tuesday. He noted that the decision was necessary to take further steps towards a political solution and resolution of the problems.
