Gen Z protests; Former Nepal PM K P Sharma Oli and former home minister arrested

KATHMANDU: Nepal's former Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli has been arrested for his involvement in Gen Z protests. Former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak was also arrested. Both were arrested on charges of culpable homicide, police officials said.

Oli was taken into custody from his private residence in Gundu, Bhaktapur. Lekhak was arrested from Surya Binayak. The action was taken on a complaint filed by the home ministry alleging that the two were involved in the violent suppression of the protest and that an investigation should be conducted. Authorities confirmed that the arrests were made on the orders of a commission headed by Special Court Judge Gauri Bahadur Karki.

Sharma Oli, Lekhak and Inspector General Chandra Kuber Khapung have been charged under sections 181 and 182 of the Nepal National Penal Code. They are charged with offences punishable by up to 10 years in prison. The commission has also ordered legal action against several officials, including home secretary Gokharna Mani Dawadi, Armed Forces Chief Raju Aryal and former National Investigation Agency chief Huturaj Thapa, who were involved in the protests.

The then Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli resigned on September 9 last year after protests erupted over a social media ban on national security grounds. 51 people were killed in the protests. 1,300 were injured. The protests also led to the escape of thousands of prisoners. Home Minister Ramesh Lekha also resigned, taking responsibility for the riots.