Kathmandu, Mar 28: Former Nepal Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli was arrested on Saturday after the newly formed government led by Balendra Shah moved swiftly to implement the findings of a probe panel investigating last year’s Gen Z protests.
Oli, who also heads the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), was taken into custody early morning from Bhaktapur district, located about 12 km from Kathmandu, police officials confirmed.
Alongside him, former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak was also arrested from his residence in Suryabinayak Municipality. Both leaders face allegations related to the suppression of protests held on September 8 and 9 last year, which resulted in the deaths of 76 individuals, including several young demonstrators.
The investigative commission, formed to examine the violent crackdown, recommended criminal proceedings against multiple individuals, including the two senior leaders. Acting on these recommendations, the new government approved immediate enforcement during its first cabinet meeting on Friday.
Home Minister Sudhan Gurung stated that the arrests mark the beginning of a legal process aimed at ensuring accountability. He emphasised that the move was not driven by political motives but by the need to uphold justice and the rule of law.
Both Oli and Lekhak are currently being held at the Kathmandu District Police Circle in Bhadrakali and are expected to be presented before the court on Sunday. Authorities indicated that the charges could carry a prison sentence ranging from three to ten years if proven.
Following his detention, Oli was taken to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital for a routine medical examination. Officials described the arrests as part of standard investigative procedures.
Meanwhile, the CPN-UML has convened an emergency meeting at its central office in Lalitpur to assess the political fallout from the developments.