On Saturday, March 28, authorities in Nepal took former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli into custody. This significant detention is tied to a rigorous, ongoing investigation into the tragic and violent events that unfolded during last year's youth-led demonstrations, widely referred to as the ‘Gen Z protests.’

These intense public demonstrations ultimately claimed the lives of 77 individuals. Alongside the former prime minister, authorities also detained Ramesh Lekhak, who served as the Home Minister during Oli's administration, for his alleged role and oversight during the national crisis.

The decision to detain these high-profile political figures was not sudden. According to local police officials, the arrests strictly followed the official recommendations made by an independent inquiry panel established specifically to investigate the protest violence. This investigative commission was led by Gauri Bahadur Karki, a respected former judge of the Special Court. After a thorough review of the events, the Karki commission concluded that the top government leadership at the time showed a grave failure to take timely action, which allowed the situation on the streets to spiral out of control.

The human cost of this escalation was devastating. Over a chaotic two-day period of unrest, approximately 76 to 77 people were killed. The bloodshed was particularly severe on the very first day of the demonstrations, when police firing continued uninterrupted for hours, resulting in the deaths of at least 19 protesters.

Providing an update on the legal proceedings, police spokesperson Om Adhikari confirmed the status of the two political leaders. Adhikari stated that both Oli and Lekhak were initially placed in police custody at the Kathmandu Police Office and are scheduled to be formally presented before a court. However, there was a rapid change in Oli's holding location. Shortly after his initial detention, the former prime minister was transferred to a local hospital for medical observation. This medical shift was deemed necessary given that he is 74 years old and has an extensive medical history, which includes previous kidney transplant surgeries.

The timing of these high-level arrests is highly significant, occurring just one day after Nepal saw a major transition of power. Balendra Shah was officially sworn in as the country's new Prime Minister exactly one day prior to the detentions. Shah represents the Rastriya Swatantra Party, a political faction that experienced a massive surge in public backing during the recent national elections. Much of this electoral support was galvanized in the immediate aftermath of the protest deaths, as citizens sought new leadership and accountability.

Addressing the nation regarding the arrests, the newly appointed Home Minister, Sudan Gurung, made the current administration's stance abundantly clear. He emphasized that the detentions are purely a legal matter and not a political vendetta.

“The act has been taken in the interest of delivering justice, not revenge,” Gurung stated.

Elaborating on the government's duty to its citizens, he added, “Nobody is above the law, and we are committed to delivering justice by holding those responsible accountable for their actions.” As the investigation moves forward, official statements indicate that the primary legal charges being prepared against the former leaders are incredibly serious. These charges center heavily on allegations of authorizing the excessive use of force and demonstrating a severe failure to contain the deadly violence during the protests that gripped the nation in September of last year.