Hundreds of people gathered in Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, on Sunday to protest against the government's eviction of landless squatters. The protesters accused the authorities of forcing families out without arranging proper housing. The demonstration also highlighted public anger over police action against youth activists who visited a temporary shelter for displaced families.

The Joint National Squatters Front organised the protest at Maitighar Mandala near the Singhdurbar Secretariat. Demonstrators carried banners and raised slogans against the government's handling of the eviction drive. Many held placards that read, "end the atrocity against the poor people", "respect human rights", "stop illegal arrest", and "provide shelter to the squatters". The protesters demanded immediate support for displaced families and called for the protection of their rights.

The protest came only days after heavy flooding affected a government-run holding centre in Kirtipur on Friday night. Around 150 displaced squatters had been staying at the facility after losing their homes during the eviction campaign. Floodwater entered the centre and forced security personnel to evacuate everyone living there.

On Saturday, a group of Gen Z youth activists visited the flooded holding centre to examine the conditions faced by the displaced families. Local reports said police baton-charged the activists during the visit and arrested several of them. One activist suffered injuries to the face and received treatment at a local hospital.

The police action triggered strong criticism from political leaders and the public. Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa condemned the arrests. He also opposed the use of force against the young activists and demanded their immediate release.

The incident also sparked protests outside Kathmandu. In Koshi Province on Sunday, people staged a sit-in outside the main gate of the Morang District Police Office. They protested against the alleged mistreatment of the Gen Z activists. Police later arrested 26 people who took part in the demonstration.

The latest protests followed the government's eviction drive that started in April. Authorities demolished informal settlements across the Kathmandu Valley and several other parts of Nepal. The campaign displaced more than 15,000 people from nearly 2,600 families. Many of those families lost their homes during the operation and continued to wait for a permanent solution.

Government figures showed that officials later moved 325 of the affected families into temporary holding centres across Kathmandu. These shelters provided short-term accommodation for a small number of those displaced. However, thousands of other families remained without permanent rehabilitation.

The situation became more tense earlier this month. On July 2, the government instructed all landless squatters staying in the holding centres to leave by July 6. Many families opposed the order and refused to move without receiving proper rehabilitation or alternative housing. As of Thursday, more than 60 families were still living in the centres despite the government's deadline. Their refusal reflected the ongoing dispute over resettlement and long-term support.

The protests on Sunday showed growing public concern over the government's approach to the eviction campaign. Demonstrators demanded safe housing for displaced families and criticised the treatment of those who spoke out in their support. Political leaders, activists and citizens across Nepal voiced concerns. The standoff over rehabilitation continues, while many displaced families still wait for a permanent place to live.