Nepal's Former Prime Minister Arrested Over Deaths During Gen Z Protests

AP

Nepal’s former prime minister, K.P. Sharma Oli, during his arrest.

Nepal’s former prime minister, K.P. Sharma Oli, was arrested on Saturday as police investigate whether he was negligent in failing to prevent dozens of deaths during anti-corruption protests led by Gen Z activists last September, officials said.

His home minister, Ramesh Lekhak, was also detained.

Their arrests came a day after rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah was sworn in as prime minister, and followed a recommendation last week by a Nepali panel investigating the unrest that both men should face prosecution for negligence.

A total of 76 people were killed over two days of violence, which ultimately led to Oli’s resignation.

Police spokesperson Om Adhikari said both Oli and Lekhak were being held at the Kathmandu Police Office and would be brought before a court on Sunday, a working day in Nepal.

"We have arrested them as per the recommendations made by the ‌investigation ⁠commission," he said.

The panel held Oli responsible for not taking any action to stop hours of firing that killed at ⁠least 19 Gen Z protesters on the first day of the demonstrations.

Anger over the deaths helped sweep Shah's Rastriya Swatantra Party to a landslide election this month.

Source: Reuters



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