Nepal arrests ex-PM KP Sharma Oli over 77 deaths in protest crackdown

In a dramatic turn in Nepal’s political landscape, former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was arrested on March 28 over his alleged role in last year’s deadly Gen Z protests, marking one of the most high-profile crackdowns on former leadership in recent years.

Authorities also detained former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, with police confirming the arrests were made following recommendations from an investigative commission that probed the violent anti-corruption demonstrations which left at least 77 people dead.

The panel, led by former Special Court judge Gauri Bahadur Karki, concluded that Oli should face prosecution for failing to prevent a brutal crackdown on protesters. The findings were submitted to the interim administration headed by Sushila Karki two weeks ago, paving the way for swift action.

The arrests come just a day after Balen Shah was sworn in as Prime Minister, underscoring the new government’s intent to signal a decisive break from the past.

Home Minister Sudan Gurung in a strongly worded statement framed the move as a commitment to accountability rather than political vendetta.

“No one is above the law… This is not revenge against anyone, just the beginning of justice,” Gurung said, adding that the country was poised to “take a new direction.”

Officials indicated that Oli and Lekhak are likely to face charges including murder and the excessive use of force linked to the September 8 crackdown on anti-corruption protesters.

Meanwhile, political ripples were felt across the spectrum, with an emergency meeting convened at the headquarters of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) in Lalitpur following Oli’s arrest.

The developments mark a critical moment for Nepal’s fragile democracy, as the new leadership moves to hold former power centres accountable while attempting to restore public trust shaken by last year’s bloodshed.