Nepal's Ex-PM K.P. Sharma Oli Arrested Over Deadly 2024 Anti-Corruption Protests

Nepal's former prime minister K.P. Sharma Oli was arrested Saturday morning as authorities launched a formal investigation into his alleged negligence during violent anti-corruption protests that claimed 76 lives last September. The 74-year-old Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) leader was taken from his residence alongside former home minister Ramesh Lekhak, according to police spokesman Om Adhikari.

The arrests follow recommendations made this week by a Nepali investigative panel that examined violence stemming from the country's Gen Z-led protests. The panel concluded there was sufficient basis to prosecute Oli for failing to prevent a deadly security crackdown during two days of intense civil unrest, which ultimately forced him to step down from power.

Min Bahadur Shahi, a senior figure within Oli's party, confirmed to Reuters that authorities arrived at Oli's home early Saturday to take him into custody. The development marks a significant turning point in Nepal's political accountability landscape, as a former head of government now faces potential criminal prosecution over decisions made while in office.

The September 2024 demonstrations were part of a broader youth-driven movement against corruption that swept across Nepal, drawing widespread public support before authorities responded with force. The resulting death toll of 76 protesters shocked the nation and intensified calls for justice and government transparency.

Nepal is now under new leadership following the March 5 parliamentary elections. Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah was sworn in as prime minister on Friday, signaling a dramatic generational and cultural shift in the country's political direction. His rise to power reflects growing public demand for reform and fresh leadership in a nation still grappling with the aftermath of one of its most turbulent political crises in recent memory.