Nepal's Former Prime Minister Detained Over Fatal Protest Response
Police in Nepal have confirmed the detention of former prime minister KP Sharma Oli and his former home affairs minister Ramesh Lekhak. The arrests are connected to their alleged roles in a deadly crackdown on youth-led protests last year that resulted in at least 77 fatalities.
Early Morning Arrests Follow New Government Swearing-In
Authorities detained the three-time former prime minister at his residence in Kathmandu in the early hours of Saturday. The arrests occurred less than twenty-four hours after Nepal's new prime minister, Balendra Shah, and his cabinet were officially sworn into office. Shah, a former rapper widely known as Balen, secured a landslide victory this month with a campaign platform promising justice for the killings during last year's gen Z uprising and a crackdown on corruption.
The protests erupted in September last year, initially sparked by a brief social media ban and growing frustration over political corruption and nepotism. Police opened fire on demonstrators, killing 19 protesters. The unrest escalated nationwide the following day when parliament and government offices were set ablaze, leading to dozens more deaths and ultimately causing the government's collapse.
Pressure Mounts for Accountability
In the aftermath of the violence, there has been increasing pressure to hold Oli and his home affairs minister accountable for the deaths, with allegations that they ordered the police response. Newly appointed Home Affairs Minister Sudan Gurung announced the arrests via social media, stating, "No one is above the law. We have taken former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former home minister Ramesh Lekhak under control. This is not revenge against anyone, it is just the beginning of justice."
Several trucks of police officers in riot gear conducted the arrests at the men's homes before transporting them to the Kathmandu district police office. Oli, who is 74 years old and suffers from kidney issues, was reportedly taken to a hospital following his detention. His lawyer, Tikaram Bhattara, told Reuters that the arrest did not comply with legal standards, arguing, "They have said it is for investigation. It is illegal and improper because there is no risk of him fleeing or avoiding questioning."
Investigation Report Recommendations Lead to Detention
The detentions follow the leak of a government-backed report investigating the deadly uprising. The investigation recommended that Oli, Lekhak, and the chief of police at the time of the protests face a ten-year prison sentence for their alleged involvement in the crackdown. While the report noted that it was "not established that there was an order to shoot," it alleged that "no effort was made to stop or control the firing and, due to their negligent conduct, even minors lost their lives."
Police spokesperson Om Adhikari confirmed that the arrests were made in accordance with the report's recommendations, stating, "We have arrested them as per the recommendations made by the investigation commission."
New Prime Minister Symbolizes Change
Shah's election as prime minister, which saw him decisively defeat Nepal's veteran political leaders, is viewed as a triumph of the gen Z protests and a rejection of the old political establishment, which had become tarnished by corruption allegations. The former rapper, known for his sharp dressing and signature sunglasses, released a new track on the eve of his inauguration, pledging to bring "unity" to Nepal.
In the video, which garnered over two million views within its first twenty-four hours, Shah rapped, "My heart is full of courage, my red blood is boiling; my brothers stand with me, this time we will rise. May my breath not run out, I will run like a leopard." His victory represents a significant shift in Nepal's political landscape, emphasizing accountability and justice for past actions.
