Kathmandu, Nepal — Police in Nepal has arrested the former Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli Dozens of people died during this early Saturday morning violent protests The government fell in September and resulted in new elections.
Authorities arrested the powerful communist leader at his home on the outskirts of the capital, Kathmandu. They also arrested former home minister Ramesh Lekhri, who is accused of ordering officers to open fire on protesters.
Home Minister Sudan Gurung announced the arrests on social media.
“Nobody is above the law. We have taken former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak under control,” Gurung said. “This is not revenge on anyone, this is just the beginning of justice.”
A government-appointed commission of inquiry demanded a prison sentence of up to 10 years for Oli, a writer and police chief at the time of the protests.
Several trucks of police officers in riot gear made the arrests at the men’s homes before taking them to the Kathmandu District Police Office.
The arrests come a day after the formation of a new government led by the rapper-turned-politician. Balendra Shah Took office after massive victory in parliamentary elections election by his Rashtriya Swatantra Party earlier this month.
Shah and Gurung have promised to get justice for those killed and injured.
This was the country’s first election after Youth led protest Protests against corruption and bad governance took place on September 8 and September 9, leaving 76 people dead and more than 2,300 injured. The angry mob burned the offices of the Prime Minister and the President, police stations and the homes of top politicians, who were forced to flee on army helicopters.
Protests instigated by “Gen Z” workers forced Nepal’s appointment on September 12. first female prime ministerSushila Karki, a retired Supreme Court judge who served during the transition before the election.
