KATHMANDU, Mar 28 (V7N) – In a historic and dramatic turn of events, Nepal Police arrested former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak early Saturday morning. The arrests are linked to their alleged roles in the lethal suppression of the "Gen Z" anti-corruption protests in September 2025, which left at least 76 people dead and forced the collapse of the Oli administration.

The Arrests in Bhaktapur and Kathmandu

The operation began at dawn as police units in riot gear surrounded Oli's residence on the outskirts of Kathmandu.

  • Detention: Both Oli and Lekhak were taken to the Kathmandu District Police Office in Bhadrakali.

  • Medical Checkup: Due to his age (74) and history of kidney transplants, Oli was later moved to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital for a procedural medical examination.

  • Legal Status: While no formal charges have been filed yet, police confirmed they are acting on arrest warrants triggered by a formal complaint from the new Home Ministry.

The Karki Commission Report

The arrests follow the immediate implementation of recommendations from a high-level judicial commission led by former Special Court judge Gauri Bahadur Karki.

  • Criminal Negligence: The report found that while a direct "order to shoot" was not established, the leadership demonstrated "criminal negligence" and a reckless failure to control the firing that killed 19 protesters on the first day alone.

  • Proposed Penalties: The commission recommended that Oli, Lekhak, and then-Inspector General of Police Chandra Kuber Khapung be prosecuted under the National Penal Code, with potential prison sentences of up to 10 years.

A New Era Under Balendra Shah

The move comes just 24 hours after rapper-turned-politician Balendra "Balen" Shah was sworn in as Nepal’s 47th Prime Minister. Shah’s Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) won a landslide victory in the March 5 elections on a platform of accountability and youth-driven reform.

  • First Cabinet Decision: In its inaugural meeting on Friday, the new Cabinet voted to implement the Karki Commission’s findings "without delay."

  • Home Minister's Statement: Newly appointed Home Minister Sudan Gurung, himself a central figure in the September uprising, posted on Instagram:

"No one is above the law... This is not revenge against anyone, just the beginning of justice. I believe the country will now take a new direction."

Background: The Gen Z Movement

The protests began in early September 2025 following a government ban on social media platforms but quickly escalated into a nationwide revolt against systemic corruption and economic stagnation. The use of live ammunition against students—some still in school uniforms—sparked international condemnation and led to the burning of several government buildings before the army stepped in to facilitate a transition to an interim government.

END/SMA/AJ