Nepal's ex-PM arrested over alleged role in protest crackdown

## Summary
Advertisement Asia Nepal's ex-PM arrested over alleged role in protest crackdown The arrests of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and ex-Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak come a day after PM Balendra Shah and his Cabinet were sworn in. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST KATHMANDU: Nepal's former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and ex-Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak were arrested Saturday morning (Mar 28) over their alleged involvement in a deadly crackdown on protestors in September, police said. "They were arrested this morning and the process will move forward according to the law," Kathmandu Valley police spokesman Om Adhikari told AFP. The detentions come a day after Prime Minister Balendra Shah and his Cabinet were sworn in after the first elections since the 2025 uprising that toppled Oli's government. Related: Nepali rapper Shah sworn in as prime minister Commentary: Nepal’s next prime minister won big – it comes with bigger expectations Source: AFP/cc Newsletter Morning Brief Subscribe to CNA’s Morning Brief An automated curation of our top stories to start your day.

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Nepal's ex-PM arrested over alleged role in protest crackdown
The arrests of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and ex-Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak come a day after PM Balendra Shah and his Cabinet were sworn in.
Former Prime Minister of Nepal and Chairman of Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) K.P. Sharma Oli was forced to resign after the deadly youth-led protests against corruption in September 2025. (File photo: Reuters/Sabrina Dangol)
28 Mar 2026 10:00AM
(Updated: 28 Mar 2026 10:50AM)
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KATHMANDU: Nepal's former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and ex-Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak were arrested Saturday morning (Mar 28) over their alleged involvement in a deadly crackdown on protestors in September, police said.
"They were arrested this morning and the process will move forward according to the law," Kathmandu Valley police spokesman Om Adhikari told AFP.
The detentions come a day after
Prime Minister Balendra Shah and his Cabinet were sworn in
after the first elections since the 2025 uprising that toppled Oli's government.
At least 77 people were killed in the anti-corruption youth uprising on Sep 8 and 9, 2025, which began over a brief social media ban, but tapped into longstanding fury over economic hardship.
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At least 19 young people were killed in a crackdown on the first day of protests.
The unrest spread nationwide the following day as parliament and government offices were set ablaze, resulting in the government's collapse.
During the caretaker administration, a government-backed commission into the deadly uprising recommended the prosecution of Oli and other officials.
The report said that it was "not established that there was an order to shoot", but said that "no effort was made to stop or control the firing and, due to their negligent conduct, even minors lost their lives".
Oli has previously denied ordering security forces to open fire on protesters. He told AFP during his failed bid for re-election in the Mar 5 poll that he blames "infiltrators" for the violence.
Demonstrators gather near the parliament during a protest against corruption and the government's decision to block several social media platforms, in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sep 8, 2025. (Photo: Reuters/Navesh Chitrakar)
'BEGINNING OF JUSTICE'
Shah, a 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician, and his Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections this month on a platform of youth-driven political change.
Shah challenged and defeated Marxist leader Oli, 74, in the four-time ex-prime minister's own constituency.
Shah's first cabinet meeting on Friday evening decided to implement the recommendations made by the probe commission.
The commission's report said victims in 48 out of 63 completed autopsies died of bullet wounds, and that the majority were struck in their chest or head.
More than 200 people were questioned, including Oli, and a 900-page report with an additional 8,000 pages of evidence was submitted.
"No one is above the law... This is not revenge against anyone, just the beginning of justice. I believe, now the country will take a new direction," newly appointed Home Minister Sudan Gurung, who was a key figure in the protests, posted on Instagram.
On Saturday, Nepali newsite Onlinekhabar.com said Oli had denied any role in the violence.
"This arrest is vindictive, I will fight a legal battle for it, prepare yourselves," Oli told his lawyers, the site reported.
Oli's political career stretches nearly six decades, a period that saw a decade-long civil war and Nepal's 2008 abolition of its monarchy.
As prime minister, Oli became a lightning rod for protester fury. He resigned on Sep 9, 2025, as mobs torched his house, parliament and government offices.
In his resignation letter, Oli said he hoped stepping down would help "move towards a political solution and the resolution of the problems".
Related:
Nepali rapper Shah sworn in as prime minister
Commentary: Nepal’s next prime minister won big – it comes with bigger expectations
Source: AFP/cc
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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
N/A

### Areas for Consideration
- CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less At least 19 young people were killed in a crackdown on the first day of protests.

### Implications
- Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST KATHMANDU: Nepal's former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and ex-Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak were arrested Saturday morning (Mar 28) over their alleged involvement in a deadly crackdown on protestors in September, police said. "They were arrested this morning and the process will move forward according to the law," Kathmandu Valley police spokesman Om Adhikari told AFP.
- Demonstrators gather near the parliament during a protest against corruption and the government's decision to block several social media platforms, in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sep 8, 2025. (Photo: Reuters/Navesh Chitrakar) 'BEGINNING OF JUSTICE' Shah, a 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician, and his Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections this month on a platform of youth-driven political change.
- I believe, now the country will take a new direction," newly appointed Home Minister Sudan Gurung, who was a key figure in the protests, posted on Instagram.
- On Saturday, Nepali newsite Onlinekhabar.com said Oli had denied any role in the violence. "This arrest is vindictive, I will fight a legal battle for it, prepare yourselves," Oli told his lawyers, the site reported.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers oli, minister, nepal topics. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 870.