Nepal: Former PM KP Sharma, Ex-Home Minister Arrested Over Gen Z Protest

Former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and senior Nepali Congress leader Ramesh Lekhak were arrested on Saturday over his alleged role in last year's Gen Z protests. It comes a day after Balendra Shah took oath as the new Prime Minister of the country.

Oli was taken into custody from his residence in Gundu during the morning hours, while Lekhak was detained around 5 a.m. from his home in Suryabinayak. According to Lekhak's aide, Janak Bhatta, police arrived unannounced and executed the warrant. Both men are accused of criminal negligence in the handling of the September protests, which spiralled into violence and left 77 people dead, according to a report in The Kathmandu Post.

The arrests follow a formal complaint filed by the Home Ministry and are based on recommendations from a commission led by former Special Court judge Gauri Bahadur Karki. The commission's report, submitted earlier this month, concluded that senior political and security leaders failed to act on intelligence warnings of unrest, allowing the protests to escalate fatally.

The report recommends that Oli, Lekhak, and then-Inspector General of Police Chandra Kuber Khapung face charges under Sections 181 and 182 of Nepal's Penal Code, provisions that cover criminal negligence and recklessness. Convictions could carry prison sentences of up to ten years.

Other senior officials have also been implicated. The commission named former home secretary Gokarna Mani Dawadi, Armed Police Force chief Raju Aryal, former National Investigation Department head Hutaraj Thapa, and then-Kathmandu chief district officer Chhabi Rijal for prosecution. Meanwhile, current Inspector General Dan Bahadur Karki and Armed Police Force officer Narayan Dutta Poudel were recommended for formal reprimands, a measure that could stall their career advancement.

The crackdown on accountability comes after months of public outrage over the government's handling of the youth-led demonstrations. Protesters, largely from Generation Z, had mobilized against unemployment, corruption, and lack of opportunities. What began as peaceful rallies quickly turned violent, with clashes between demonstrators and security forces resulting in dozens of deaths and widespread destruction of property.

Security was visibly tightened across the Kathmandu Valley on Friday night as police prepared for the arrests. Teams from the Bhaktapur District Police Range and the Kathmandu Valley Police Office were mobilized for the operation. Senior officials, including Home Secretary Raj Kumar Shrestha and Law Secretary Parashwor Dhungana, were seen at Police Headquarters late into the night, finalizing legal procedures.

Home Minister Sudan Gurung also held marathon discussions with security chiefs until midnight. The decisive moment came when Prime Minister Balendra Shah convened a Cabinet meeting and endorsed the commission's recommendations, effectively clearing the path for legal action against those named.

The arrests of Oli and Lekhak send shockwaves through Nepal's political landscape. Rarely have figures of such stature faced direct criminal charges for protest-related violence. Analysts say the move could redefine accountability in Nepal's governance, setting a precedent for holding leaders responsible for state actions.