Nepal gives kingly send off to Gen Z victims of protests

"Veer shaheed amar rahos, shaheed ko sapana pura hos" (Long live the martyrs, may their dreams be fulfilled) - the chants echoed through the streets of Kathmandu on Tuesday, as citizens lined the roads to pay their respects to the students killed in last week's firing during the Gen Z protests.

- Prawesh Lama

The interim government officially declared the students martyrs, arranged a heavily guarded convoy, and permitted a funeral procession that included a guard of honour provided by the Armed Police Force of Nepal. Two cabinet ministers also joined the procession.

Draped in Nepal's national flag, the bodies of 11 students - kept at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital for the past week - were taken through various parts of the city before reaching the Pashupatinath temple for final rites on the banks of the Bagmati river.

Fearing potential unrest during the procession, the government deployed a significant security presence along the route, including riot control units accompanying the convoy.