Authorities in Nepal arrested ex-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak following a panel's recommendation over a fatal response to protests.
Nepal's former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was arrested on Saturday in connection with a deadly crackdown on protests that occurred last September. The arrest followed a panel's recommendation for prosecution due to alleged criminal negligence during the unrest.
The protests began over a government-imposed social media ban and escalated due to public frustration with corruption and economic hardships. More than 70 people were killed, with many protesters shot by police, leading to widespread condemnation.
Details of the Crackdown: At least 19 individuals, including a teenager in school uniform, died on September 8 during the so-called Gen-Z protests. The demonstrations spread across the nation, resulting in additional deaths, fires at parliament, police stations, and shops.
Investigation and Arrests
A panel investigating the unrest recommended the arrests of Oli and Lekhak. Kathmandu Valley police spokesman Om Adhikari confirmed the detentions, stating that proceedings would follow legal processes. Neither Oli nor Lekhak has been formally charged yet.
Oli, aged 74, previously dismissed the panel's findings as "character assassination and hate politics" in comments to the Annapurna Post. His lawyers described the arrest as unwarranted, arguing there was no risk of him fleeing.
The arrests occurred a day after Nepal's new Prime Minister, 35-year-old Balen Shah, a rapper-turned-politician, was sworn in following elections triggered by the crisis. Shah's Rastriya Swatantra Party won a landslide victory in the March 5 election, marking a rare majority in Nepal's electoral system.
Families of the 76 people who died have demanded accountability from officials. New Home Minister Sudan Gurung, a key protest figure, stated on Instagram that the arrests signal the start of justice, emphasizing that no one is above the law.
