Former Nepal PM K.P. Sharma Oli and his ex-home minister are detained for investigation into negligence during deadly Gen Z anti-corruption protests last year.
KATHMANDU: Nepal’s former prime minister K.P. Sharma Oli was arrested on Saturday. Police are investigating whether he was negligent in failing to prevent dozens of deaths during Gen Z anti-corruption protests last September.
His former home minister, Ramesh Lekhak, was also taken into custody. The arrests follow a recommendation last week by a Nepali panel investigating protest violence that both men should be prosecuted.
A total of 76 people were killed in two days of unrest, which led to Oli resigning from office. Police spokesman Om Adhikari said both men were being detained at the Kathmandu Police Office.
“We have arrested them as per the recommendations made by the investigation commission,” he said. The pair are due to be produced before a court on Sunday.
Oli, 74, was subsequently transferred to a hospital from the police office, according to witnesses. The former leader has had two kidney transplants in the past.
His lawyer, Tikaram Bhattarai, told Reuters the arrest was unwarranted. “They have said it is for investigation. It is illegal and improper because there is no risk of him fleeing or avoiding questioning,” he said.
Lekhak and his lawyer could not be immediately reached for comment. The investigation panel held Oli responsible for not taking action to stop hours of firing that killed at least 19 Gen Z protesters on the first day of the demonstrations.
Public anger over the deaths helped sweep rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah’s Rastriya Swatantra Party to a landslide election victory this month. Shah was sworn in as prime minister just one day before the arrests.