Protests erupt in Nepal over arrest of former PM K P Sharma Oli
Supporters of former Nepal prime minister K P Sharma Oli staged protests across the country following his arrest over alleged involvement in suppressing last year’s Gen Z movement. Clashes with police were reported as demonstrators demanded his immediate release
Kathmandu: CPN-UML members on Saturday staged demonstrations in different parts of Nepal to protest against the arrest of party chair and former prime minister K P Sharma Oli.
The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) leader Oli and former home minister Ramesh Lekhak were arrested early Saturday morning 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.
Hundreds of CPN-UML activists gathered at Damak municipality in Jhapa district of Koshi province, Pokhara municipality in Kaski district and Maitighar Mandala and Babarmahal in Kathmandu to protest Oli’s arrest.
The agitating cadres of CPN-UML and activists belonging to the All Nepal National Free Students Union (ANNFSU) chanted slogans against the newly formed Balendra Shah government and Home Minister Sudan Gurung and demanded the immediate release of Oli.
In Kathmandu, the CPN-UML cadres staged demonstrations in Maitighar Mandala, Babarmahal, Naya Baneshwor, Singhdurbar and Bhrikutimandap areas, where a large number of riot policemen were deployed.
Police baton-charged and threw several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the crowd as the agitating activists pelted stones.
A group of CPN-UML cadres also burnt copies of the probe commission report that held Oli and then home minister Lekhak responsible for the September crackdown on the Gen Z protest.
In Bhrikutimandap and Babarmahal areas, the CPN-UML cadres and students burnt tyres and chanted anti-government slogans.
The student activists belonging to ANNFSU were also carrying placards with slogans such as “Release K P Oli immediately”, “Stop political revenge” and “Maintain rule of law”.
The pro-Oli cadres also demonstrated in front of the Singhdurbar Secretariat South Gate, where they clashed with riot policemen.
As they dismantled the security barricade installed by police, the security personnel used baton charge to disperse the crowd.
Kathmandu District Police Circle spokesperson Pawan Bhattarai said that seven CPN-UML activists were arrested as they broke the security barricade and tried to enter a restricted area near the Singhdurbar Secretariat gate.
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.
