After spending five years working in South Korea, Sauran returned to Nepal, determined to start a small business and raise his six-year-old son, Shreyan, close to family. But those dreams were shattered on September 8, when two bullets pierced his chest near the Federal Parliament during the Gen Z protest, a youth-led movement demanding justice and reform against corruption in the government led by former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Witnesses say Sauran was helping another injured protester when he was shot twice in the chest and also struck by a pellet. He was rushed to Civil Hospital and later to Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead.
“He had two bullet wounds in his chest,” said his cousin, Shaishab Kishor Shrestha. “His parents were in the United States and only managed to reach Nepal after several days to perform his cremation.”
That morning, Sauran had dropped his son off at school before joining the protest. Rojita had pleaded with him not to go. “I told him no one knows what can happen during protests,” she said, fighting tears. “But he went with excitement, saying, ‘Change needs courage.’” He carried a small backpack with water, juice, and snacks, planning to return home for dinner. Around 12:07 p.m., he video-called Rojita, showing her the crowd and saying, “We’ve reached Parliament.” Minutes later, live ammunition was fired. Her calls went unanswered. An unknown number later informed her that her husband had been shot. “He