Nepal's former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak have been taken into custody by the police, accused of orchestrating a brutal crackdown on protesters in September. The arrests were made on Saturday morning, just a day after the new Prime Minister, Balendra Shah, and his cabinet were sworn into office following the first election since the 2025 uprising that toppled Oli's government.
According to eyewitness accounts, the protests began as a response to a brief social media ban, but quickly escalated into a nationwide movement against economic hardship and corruption. At least 77 people lost their lives in the two-day uprising, with 19 young people killed on the first day of protests alone. The unrest spread rapidly, with parliament and government offices being set ablaze, ultimately leading to the collapse of the government.
The crackdown on protesters has been widely condemned, with experts warning that it may have contributed to the widespread unrest. The arrests of Oli and Lekhak are seen as a significant step towards accountability and justice for the victims of the crackdown.
In a related development, the Nepalese government has vowed to investigate the role of its security forces in the crackdown, with many calling for those responsible to be held accountable.
The process of bringing Oli and Lekhak to justice will now move forward according to the law, as stated by Kathmandu Valley police spokesman Om Adhikari.
The arrest of K.P. Sharma Oli and Ramesh Lekhak marks a crucial step towards accountability in Nepal, and serves as a reminder that those in power must be held responsible for their actions. The Nepalese government's commitment to investigating the crackdown on protesters is a welcome development, and we hope that justice will be served for the victims and their families. The global community is watching with interest as Nepal navigates this complex and sensitive situation.
