Kathmandu: In a significant political development, Nepal’s former prime minister KP Sharma Oli was taken into custody on Saturday in connection with an ongoing investigation into last year’s violent protests that left dozens dead.
The arrest follows recommendations made earlier this week by a government-appointed inquiry panel that examined the unrest linked to anti-corruption demonstrations led largely by young citizens. The panel suggested legal action against the 74-year-old leader, citing alleged lapses in handling the situation and failure to prevent the escalation of violence.
The protests, which erupted in September, turned deadly over a span of two days, resulting in the loss of 76 lives. The unrest eventually forced Oli to step down from office amid mounting public anger and political pressure.
According to senior Minister Bahadur Shahi, affiliated with the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), police officials arrived at Oli’s residence early in the morning and escorted him into custody.
Authorities have confirmed that Ramesh Lekhak, who served as home minister during the protests, has also been detained as part of the investigation.
Police spokesperson Om Adhikari stated that both leaders are being questioned to determine accountability for the events that led to the fatalities.
Meanwhile, Nepal witnessed a leadership shift just a day earlier, as Balendra Shah—a rapper-turned-politician—was sworn in as the country’s new prime minister following his party’s victory in the March 5 parliamentary elections.
The developments mark a crucial moment in Nepal’s political landscape, with legal scrutiny intensifying over the handling of one of the country’s most tragic episodes of civil unrest in recent years.
