Nepal arrests former prime minister and home minister over deadly 'Gen Z protests' crackdown | Euronews

## Summary
By&nbsp Malek Fouda Published on 28/03/2026 - 11:01 GMT+1 Share Comments Share Facebook Twitter Flipboard Send Reddit Linkedin Messenger Telegram VK Bluesky Threads Whatsapp Hours after the country's youngest ever leader was sworn in, Nepal police have arrested the former prime minister and home minister over a deadly crackdown on protests in September last year, which killed 76 people and injured at least 2,300 others. Police in Nepal have arrested former Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli early on Saturday over the deaths of dozens of people during violent protests that toppled his government and resulted in new elections. FILE -The then newly elected Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli greets after the oath of office in President residence in Kathmandu, Nepal, July 15, 2024 Niranjan Shrestha/Copyright 2024 The AP. Go to accessibility shortcuts Share Comments Read more Nepal's youngest PM takes oath of office after Gen Z protests toppled previous government Curfew imposed in southern Nepal city after mosque vandalism sparks protests Families hold vigil in Nepal as death toll from protests rises civilian deaths Protests Nepal Violence Kathmandu

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By&nbsp
Malek Fouda
Published on
28/03/2026 - 11:01 GMT+1
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Hours after the country's youngest ever leader was sworn in, Nepal police have arrested the former prime minister and home minister over a deadly crackdown on protests in September last year, which killed 76 people and injured at least 2,300 others.
Police in Nepal have arrested former Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli early on Saturday over the deaths of dozens of people during violent protests that toppled his government and resulted in new elections.
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Authorities arrested the powerful communist leader at his residence on the outskirts of the capital Kathmandu. They also arrested Ramesh Lekhak, the former home minister who has been accused of ordering authorities to fire on protesters.
Incumbent home minister Sudan Gurung announced the arrests on social media.
“No one is above the law. We have taken former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former home minister Ramesh Lekhak under control,” Gurung said in a post on Facebook.
“This is not revenge against anyone, it is just the beginning of justice. I believe, now the country will take a new direction.”
An investigation by a commission set up by the government called for punishment of up to 10 years in prison for Oli, Lekhak and the chief of police at the time of the protests.
Several trucks of police officers in riot gear conducted the arrests at the men’s homes before taking them to the Kathmandu District Police office.
The arrests come a day after a new government headed by rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah took office following a landslide win in parliamentary election earlier this month by his Rastriya Swatantra Party.
FILE -The then newly elected Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli greets after the oath of office in President residence in Kathmandu, Nepal, July 15, 2024
Niranjan Shrestha/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved.
Shah and Gurung have promised justice for those killed and wounded.
The election was the country’s first since the youth-led protests against corruption and poor governance on 8-9 September that left 76 people dead and more than 2,300 injured.
Angry mobs burned down the offices of the prime minister and president, police stations and the homes of top politicians who were forced to flee on army helicopters.
The demonstrations fuelled by “Gen Z” activists forced the 12 September appointment of Nepal’s
first female prime minister
, Sushila Karki, a retired Supreme Court judge who served during the transition leading up to the election.
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Nepal's youngest PM takes oath of office after Gen Z protests toppled previous government
Curfew imposed in southern Nepal city after mosque vandalism sparks protests
Families hold vigil in Nepal as death toll from protests rises
civilian deaths
Protests
Nepal
Violence
Kathmandu

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
N/A

### Areas for Consideration
N/A

### Implications
- I believe, now the country will take a new direction.” An investigation by a commission set up by the government called for punishment of up to 10 years in prison for Oli, Lekhak and the chief of police at the time of the protests.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers minister, nepal, protests topics. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 476.