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Arrest and hospitalization of former PM
KP Sharma Oli, Nepal's former prime minister, was taken to a Kathmandu clinic on Saturday following his arrest over alleged involvement in last year's lethal suppression of protests. Officials stated the admission was routine police procedure after detaining him at his residence early that morning.
Background of the unrest
The September demonstrations erupted after authorities blocked social media platforms but quickly escalated amid public outrage over corruption, economic stagnation, and high unemployment. Over 70 people died during the clashes, many shot by police.
Investigation and legal proceedings
A government-appointed panel recommended Oli and former home minister Ramesh Lekhak be prosecuted for criminal negligence. Both were arrested on Saturday but have not yet been formally charged. Kathmandu Valley police spokesman Om Adhikari confirmed the arrests, stating the process would proceed "according to the law."
Medical concerns and political reactions
Oli, 74, was hospitalized pending medical tests due to his age and history of two kidney transplants, according to the hospital's information office. His lawyers condemned the arrest as "illegal and improper," arguing there was no risk of flight or evasion. Oli had previously dismissed the commission's findings as "character assassination."
"No one is above the law... This is not revenge against anyone, just the beginning of justice."
Sudan Gurung, Nepal's new Home Minister
Public response and political shifts
Supporters of Oli's CPN-UML party launched protests in Kathmandu after the party's secretariat called for nationwide demonstrations. Meanwhile, families of the 76 victims have demanded accountability for the deaths, including those of a teenager killed in school uniform during the September 8 "Gen-Z protests."
Election aftermath
The crisis led to Oli's resignation on September 9, followed by a March 5 election. The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), led by 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician Balen Shah, secured a landslide victory-the first majority win in Nepal's fragmented electoral system in decades.
