Kathmandu [Nepal], March 28 (ANI): The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML) held an emergency secretariat meeting on Saturday demanding the immediate release of former prime minister KP Sharma Oli following his arrest, and announced a series of protests and programs to press for his release.
The party said it would stage legal and political protests with the support of the public and civil society, organise demonstrations at district party headquarters at 3 pm on Saturday, and submit protest letters to Chief District Officer (CDO) offices followed by large-scale district-level demonstrations on Sunday at 12 pm. The CPN-UML also pledged to coordinate with pro-democracy parties, civil society, and the general public.
Oli was arrested at his residence in Bhaktapur on Saturday morning and admitted to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) in Maharajgunj, Kathmandu. The arrest is linked to an alleged culpable-homicide case arising from the suppression of the September 2025 Gen Z-led anti-corruption protests.
CPN-UML member Raghuji Pant said the investigative committee’s report, which led to the arrest, lacks sufficient grounds and was prepared with intent. “The investigation committee report itself doesn’t have enough grounds for the arrest. It is prepared with an intention,” he said. Party leader and former foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali called the move “political revenge” against their chairman.
Earlier, Nepali Congress leader and former home minister Ramesh Lekhak was also arrested. Authorities said the arrests followed a formal complaint from the Home Ministry, which triggered an investigation and the issuance of arrest warrants.
According to the Kathmandu Post, police said the action implements recommendations from a commission led by former Special Court judge Gauri Bahadur Karki. The commission recommended charging Oli, Lekhak, and then-Inspector General of Police Chandra Kuber Khapung under Sections 181 and 182 of the National Penal Code for criminal negligence, punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
The report also recommended action under Section 182 against Home Secretary Gokarna Mani Dawadi, Armed Police Force chief Raju Aryal, former National Investigation Department head Hutaraj Thapa, and then-Kathmandu chief district officer Chhabi Rijal, and said other responsible officials should face proceedings under their respective organisational laws. It blamed criminal negligence and recklessness for failing to act on prior intelligence, which the report says led to multiple deaths.
The September 2025 Gen Z protests resulted in 77 deaths and widespread destruction of government and private property. A cabinet meeting led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Friday decided to implement the commission’s report, paving the way for legal action against those named. (ANI)
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