Former Nepal PM K P Sharma Oli arrested over Gen Z protest crackdown
Former Nepal prime minister K P Sharma Oli was arrested following the implementation of a probe report into last year’s Gen Z protests. Authorities also detained Ramesh Lekhak, while the CPN-UML announced nationwide protests against the action
Kathmandu: Nepal’s former Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli was arrested on Saturday, a day after the newly formed government of Balendra Shah implemented the probe commission report on the Gen Z protest that rocked the nation last year. Oli, also CPN-UML chair, was arrested at the Gundu area of Bhaktapur district, 12 km east of Kathmandu, early Saturday morning, according to police.
Former Home Minister and Nepali Congress leader Ramesh Lekhak has also been arrested from his residence at Katunje of Suryabinayak Municipality in Bhaktapur district, police added. Both Oli and Lekhak have been arrested on charges of involvement in suppressing the Gen Z movement of September 8 and 9 last year, in which 76 people, including around two dozen youths, were killed. The probe commission formed to investigate the incident surrounding the Gen Z movement has recommended legal action against Oli and Lekhak, among others, under criminal offence.
Nepal’s newly formed government, led by Balendra Shah, in its first cabinet meeting on Friday, decided to immediately implement the recommendations made by the probe commission.
“Nobody is above the law,” wrote Home Minister Sudhan Gurung in a social media post after the arrest. “We have taken under control former Prime Minister K P Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak. This is not revenge against anybody, just the beginning of justice,” he said.
“I believe that now the country will take a new direction,” he added.
Both Oli and Lekhak have been taken into detention at the Kathmandu District Police Circle in Bhadrakali, police said. The probe commission has recommended a jail sentence of three to 10 years for the offence.
A senior police officer at the Kathmandu District Police Circle told PTI that they will be presented before the Kathmandu District Court on Sunday, as it is a holiday on Saturday. Then the process of investigation in the case will start, he added.
K P Oli was taken to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital for medical examination soon after the detention. Oli was admitted to the hospital on the advice of doctors after he was diagnosed with problems related to the heart and kidney, said Senior Superintendent of Police and spokesperson of Kathmandu District Police Circle, Pawan Kumar Bhattarai.
The CPN-UML has opposed the move by the Balen government to arrest party chair Oli and demanded his immediate release. After an emergency meeting of the central secretariat of the party, UML announced it will organise a countrywide demonstration at 3 pm on Saturday against Oli’s arrest. The party has also decided to hand over protest letters to Chief District Officers of all 77 districts across Nepal on Sunday.
