Who are the protesters on the streets of Kathmandu, who all have been attacked

Neighbors play a crucial role in our lives. They are the first to notice when something is wrong, receive your deliveries while you are gone, and lend you sugar when you are in need. However, when neighbors become victims of internal conflicts and disturbances, the position is reversed. Three Neighboring nations have seen substantial political turmoil in recent years. This, in a roundabout way, made India stand in the line of fire. Social media ban-related instability in Nepal, student-led protests in Bangladesh, and economic collapse in Sri Lanka all resulted in the overthrow of incumbent governments.

3 Knocked Down In 3 Years

Mass street protests have overthrown incumbent presidents in three of India’s neighbors in the past three years. When Sri Lanka’s economy collapsed in July 2022, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was compelled to resign and leave the nation. Widespread protests in July 2024 overthrew Sheikh Hasina’s prolonged rule in Bangladesh and installed a provisional government. PM KP Sharma Oli was forced to resign in September 2025 after numerous people were killed in massive youth-led protests in Nepal over corruption and a social media ban.

‘Conspiracy Theory’ And Role Of US

This is a more complex and twisted topic. When people blame political instability in India’s neighbors, they usually mean US influence in South Asia, which includes countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. The US has not directly caused all of the instability in India’s neighbourhood, but its policies — Cold War choices, the war on terror, sanctions, lust for supreme power and democracy promotion — have unquestionably exacerbated tensions, affecting India’s security and diplomacy. Let’s throughly investigate this invisible player in the current chaos, as the other side of the coin.

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Srilanka – Mass Rebellion and Economic Collapse In 2022

An economic collapse marked the beginning of Sri Lanka’s unrest. Imports stopped, foreign reserves hit all-time lows, and necessities like medicine and fuel vanished from the market. As tens of thousands joined the Aragalaya movement and called for political change, the crisis swiftly spread from homes to public spaces. Protesters camped in central Colombo, assaulted government offices, and eventually entered the presidential palace. Years of Rajapaksa family domination came to an end when Rajapaksa left the country and resigned in July 2022, which allowed for emergency talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

US Engagement Focused on Geopolitics

• The US has been more involved in geopolitics, specifically in the Indian Ocean to fight India and China.
• The United States pressed for IMF changes during Sri Lanka’s economic crisis in 2022, although these were unpopular in the country.
• Washington also backed human rights resolutions against Sri Lanka at the United Nations, which angered Colombo.

Bangladesh – Student Revolt and End of Lengthy-Rule in 2024

Bangladesh experienced a dramatic change in August of last year. Starting in July 2024, protests against government employment quotas quickly grew into a broader anti-government movement. Workers and opposition groups joined student-led marches through Dhaka and other towns, accusing the government of suppressing and consolidating control. Innocent citizens were killed and the nation was paralyzed by clashes with security forces. Sheikh Hasina fled Dhaka and took shelter in India by early August. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus led an interim administration tasked with bringing peace back and getting ready for fresh elections.

US Support For Opposition

• Elections, government crackdowns, and Bangladesh’s human rights record have all drawn criticism from the US.
• Its sanctions on the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) in 2021 signaled support for opposition groups, which Dhaka saw as interference.
• According to some observers, this increases political friction and aims to overthrow the then-Indian-friendly Shiekh Hasina government.

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Nepal: Nepo Kid Movement, Social-Media Ban And Corruption

Unrest erupted in Nepal in September 2025 as the government decided to ban major social media sites unless users registered locally. Young people were furious by the prohibition because they perceived it as an infringement on their right to free speech, and within days, protests erupted in large cities. Protests for digital rights quickly gave way to broader annoyances with unemployment, corruption, and bad governance. Authorities estimate that at least 19 people were killed in the bloodiest battles between security forces and protesters nationwide during the rallies, which were the most violent in decades. The government then withdrew the ban and some ministers resigned, but the protests persisted, and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned within 36 hours after the disturbances.

US Uses ‘Soft Power’ To Counter India

• Through funding NGOs and promoting democracy, the US is alleged to have indirectly influenced Nepali politics.
• According to some, Washington employs “soft power” to counter Chinese and Indian influence, which causes political rifts.

A Secret Connection: How These Protests Overthrew Governments?

In each nation, a particular policy or incident (economic collapse and shortages in Sri Lanka; student quotas and inequality in Bangladesh; a social-media ban and corruption allegations in Nepal) sparked a mobilization that tapped into long-standing dissatisfaction. This process combined with deeper concerns. Students and young people took the lead in rapidly scaling protests by utilizing their networks and presence in public areas. Social media has also served as a focal point and an organizing tool; limitations or bans have intensified rather than contained protests.

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Unrest Neighbour And Spillover Effects On India

The pattern is familiar in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. A wave making event met an accumulation of economic, social, or political grievances. Youth mobilization scaled the response; and noticeable failures of governance and security approaches turned protest into a hard-hitting crisis. Political shocks in neighboring countries may spill into regional markets, trade routes, and investor sentiment. Similar instability elsewhere raises spillover risks. Large protests can cause refugee flows, close border crossings, and affect remittances and supply chains that connect India to its neighbors.

Several former Indian ambassadors stated that New Delhi needs to keep a close eye on the situation as it develops, pointing out that India’s neighborhood is “indeed in turmoil,” which is not a good sign, as Nepal sinked into chaos in the face of widespread anti-government protests. They cited examples of public demonstrations, mostly led by young people, that had resulted in political turbulence and the overthrow of governments in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in recent years.