Kathmandu, Nepal, March 28, 2026: In an unprecedented move toward political and executive accountability, police on arrested former Prime Minister and CPN (UML) Chairman KP Sharma Oli, and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak. The arrests are tied to the fatal suppression of the ‘Gen-Z’ protests in September last year, which resulted in the deaths of 76 demonstrators.
According to the Nepal Police, Chairman Oli was taken into custody from his residence in Gundu, Bhaktapur, following the issuance of an "emergency arrest warrant." Simultaneously, Mr. Lekhak was apprehended in the capital. The high-profile detentions come less than 24 hours after the newly formed Cabinet resolved to implement the recommendations of a judicial probe into the violence.
The Baneshwor Tragedy
The charges center on the events of September 8 and 9 (Bhadra 23–24), when youth-led "Gen-Z" protests in Kathmandu’s Baneshwor area escalated into a national crisis. Security forces deployed to contain the crowds opened fire, leading to 76 fatalities—a toll that sparked international outcry and allegations of gross human rights violations.
In the aftermath, the government commissioned a high-level inquiry headed by former justice Gauri Bahadur Karki. The commission’s report, submitted on April 6 (Chaitra 24), was scathing in its assessment of the state's response.
The Path to Prosecution
The Karki Commission concluded that the use of lethal force was "disproportionate and avoidable." Critically, the report established a "failure in the chain of command," suggesting that the executive leadership bypassed standard non-lethal riot control protocols. It recommended that both the then-Prime Minister and Home Minister face criminal investigation for their roles in the decision-making process.
Key Findings of the Karki Commission:
Excessive Force: Systematic use of live ammunition against unarmed protesters.
Executive Responsibility: Direct involvement of the PMO and Home Ministry in overseeing the security operations.
Legal Recommendation: Initiation of criminal proceedings to ensure state accountability.
Legal Proceedings Underway
Following Friday’s Cabinet decision to act on the report, the Ministry of Home Affairs directed the police to move forward. "We are executing the orders of the state based on a formal judicial recommendation," a senior police official stated. Both leaders are expected to be produced before the District Court later today for a remand hearing.
Political Tremors
The arrests have sent the country’s political landscape into a tailspin. While supporters of the 'Gen-Z' movement have hailed the move as a victory for justice, opposition wings have raised concerns over "political vendetta." Security has been fortified across the Kathmandu Valley, with specialized units stationed at key intersections to prevent potential unrest.
As the case moves to the judiciary, the nation awaits a trial that could redefine the limits of executive power and the protection of civil liberties i
