Arrests and Investigation
Former Prime Minister of Nepal, KP Sharma Oli, was arrested on Saturday in connection with a deadly crackdown on protests last year that resulted in 76 deaths. Ex-Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak was also taken into custody. Kathmandu Valley police spokesman Om Adhikari stated that the legal process would move forward according to the law. The arrests occurred one day after the swearing-in of new Prime Minister Balendra Shah.
Deadly Uprising
The protests, sparked by a social media ban, were fueled by anger over corruption and economic conditions. The demonstrations spread nationwide, resulting in government offices being set ablaze.
Official Recommendations and Reactions
A government-appointed panel recommended prosecuting Oli for negligence in handling the protests. The report stated that authorities failed to halt or control the shooting, resulting in civilian deaths, including minors. Oli has denied ordering security forces to open fire on protesters and previously rejected the commission's findings, calling them "character assassination and hate politics," according to the Annapurna Post. His lawyers told Reuters that his detention was unwarranted.
Political Fallout
New Home Minister Sudan Gurung posted on Instagram, "No one is above the law... This is not revenge against anyone, just the beginning of justice." Oli's CPN-UML party secretariat decided to launch nationwide demonstrations in response to the arrests. Prime Minister Shah's Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections this month. Shah defeated Oli in the election.
Medical Evaluation
Oli, 74, was admitted to a clinic in Kathmandu as part of routine police procedure. The hospital's information office told BBC Nepali that Oli was admitted pending results from medical tests, given his age and medical history of two kidney transplants. Lekhak is 62.
Calls for Accountability
Families of 76 people who died have been calling for officials to be held accountable. The arrests come after a government-backed commission into the deadly uprising recommended the prosecution of Oli and other senior officials. The new Prime Minister Shah decided to implement the recommendations made by the investigative commission at his first cabinet meeting on Friday.
