Nepal’s former prime minister, KP Sharma Oli, was arrested on Saturday as authorities investigate whether he was negligent in preventing the deaths of dozens during anti-corruption protests last September. The protests, led mainly by Gen Z activists, resulted in clashes with police, arson, and violent unrest that killed 76 people and ultimately led to Oli’s resignation.
Oli’s arrest followed the swearing-in of rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah as Nepal’s new prime minister on Friday, and came after a panel investigating the protests recommended that Oli be prosecuted for negligence. His former home minister, Ramesh Lekhak, was also taken into custody.
Oli’s lawyer called the arrest illegal, and his supporters took to the streets in protest. Demonstrators clashed with police near the prime minister’s office, burning tires and blocking roads. Authorities used teargas and batons to disperse the crowd, injuring at least one person.
The arrests mark a dramatic moment in Nepal’s political landscape, highlighting ongoing tensions over accountability for the deadly crackdown and the country’s efforts to address civil unrest during politically sensitive times.
