Nepal’s former PM K P Sharma Oli arrested over 2025 Gen Z protest crackdown

Nepal witnessed a dramatic political development on Saturday as former Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli was arrested in connection with the suppression of the 2025 Gen Z protest movement , during which 76 people were killed . The arrest came just a day after Balendra Shah assumed office as Prime Minister and ordered the implementation of a probe commission’s recommendations.

Police detained Oli , who also serves as chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) , early Saturday morning from Gundu in Bhaktapur district , about 12 kilometres east of Kathmandu .

Authorities also arrested former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak , a senior leader of the Nepali Congress , from his residence in Katunje of Suryabinayak Municipality in the same district.

The arrests followed the government’s decision to act on the findings of a probe commission that investigated the events surrounding the youth-led protests held on September 8 and 9 last year. The demonstrations, driven largely by young activists and social media mobilisation, turned violent after security forces moved to suppress the protests.

According to the commission’s findings, 76 people were killed , including around two dozen youths . The panel concluded that several senior officials were responsible for the actions taken during the protests and recommended criminal proceedings against Oli, Lekhak and others. If convicted, they could face three to ten years in prison .

Both leaders have been taken into custody at the Kathmandu District Police Circle in Bhadrakali. Police officials said they will be produced before the Kathmandu District Court on Sunday , after which the formal investigation process will begin.

Shortly after his detention, Oli was taken to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital for a medical examination and later admitted for observation after doctors detected heart and kidney related health issues , according to police spokesperson Senior Superintendent Pawan Kumar Bhattarai .

Meanwhile, Oli’s party CPN-UML strongly condemned the arrest and demanded his immediate release. Following an emergency meeting of its leadership, the party announced nationwide protests at 3 p.m. on Saturday and plans to submit protest letters to Chief District Officers in all 77 districts of Nepal on Sunday.