New Delhi, Sept. 16 -- Our neighbourhood street dog Ramri is barking more than usual. Last night, unknown men tried to break into a house in our area, on the outskirts of Kathmandu. Tonight, my father will join a group of neighbours in the locality to patrol the streets and keep vigil.

Last week, my uncle's family in Maharajganj, Kathmandu, experienced two break-ins. These are just some of several such incidents being reported in Nepal since last Monday, 8 September.

That day, Nepal witnessed a massive political demonstration called by youth termed as 'Gen Z', forced onto the streets following a ban on social media. The country runs on a remittance economy, with about 2,000 Nepalis leaving daily to work in the Gulf countries, Malaysia a...