Nepal’s government has launched an inquiry into the violent clashes that erupted during a rally advocating for the return of the constitutional monarchy, a minister confirmed on Saturday.

The protest turned deadly on Friday, leaving two people dead and at least 112 injured, including 77 security personnel. Authorities said the violence escalated when police intervened to block a stone-throwing crowd from advancing toward the parliament building in Kathmandu.

Demonstrators vandalized homes, businesses, a hospital, a political party office, and a shopping mall, while also seizing a weapon from law enforcement, officials reported.

“This is not a protest—it’s outright vandalism, arson, and lawlessness,” stated Prithvi Subba Gurung, Nepal’s Minister of Communication and Information Technology.

Kathmandu’s chief district officer, Rishiram Tiwari, confirmed the arrest of 105 individuals, including key pro-monarchy leaders.

Nepal’s monarchy, which lasted 239 years, was formally abolished in 2008 as part of a peace agreement with former Maoist rebels, bringing an end to a decade-long insurgency that claimed 17,000 lives. The country’s last king, 77-year-old Gyanendra, now leads a private life in Kathmandu as an ordinary citizen.

Since the monarchy’s fall, Nepal has grappled with political instability, cycling through 14 different governments. This turbulence has hindered economic growth and deterred investment, fueling public frustration over the government’s repeated failure to fulfill development promises in the strategically positioned nation between China and India.