The arrest of former Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak in connection with the September 2025 firing incident in Kathmandu has triggered a wave of mixed reactions across Nepal, raising concerns over transparency, due process and the intent behind the action.
The arrests follow mounting pressure on the interim government after a probe agency submitted its findings and recommendations on March 8 regarding the incident that left several people dead during protests in the capital. Despite calls to make the report public, the then administration deferred the decision, leaving it to the incoming government to take a final call.
Even as the report remained officially undisclosed, portions of the nearly 1,000-page document surfaced in sections of the Nepalese media, intensifying public scrutiny. Reports indicate that the government briefly considered releasing the findings days before the swearing-in of the new administration but did not proceed.
According to media reports, the arrests were carried out before the report was made public, prompting criticism over the sequence of action. Questions have also emerged over the selective nature of the arrests, with other senior security officials named in the report reportedly not facing similar action.
Observers have pointed out that the absence of full disclosure has fuelled suspicion that the new government could use its parliamentary strength to act against political opponents. Concerns have been raised that legal proceedings should ideally follow the public release of findings to ensure accountability and procedural fairness.
The arrests come against the backdrop of significant political shifts in Nepal, where a new government assumed office following youth-led protests over alleged governance failures. Oli, who contested the elections after being removed from office, lost to incumbent Prime Minister Balendra Shah.
Comparisons have also been drawn with recent developments in neighbouring Bangladesh, where political unrest led to a different trajectory, including the exit of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and subsequent legal actions. However, unlike Bangladesh, Nepal has not witnessed retaliatory violence following the crackdown.
The developments have placed the new government under scrutiny, particularly over its handling of justice for victims of the September 8 incident. Calls have intensified for ensuring that all those responsible for the suppression of protests are held accountable, without selective targeting.
Analysts have warned that any perception of bias in the legal process could undermine the credibility of the investigation and the broader justice delivery system, including the work of the Gauri Bahadur Karki-led commission that examined the incident.
The situation unfolds at a time when the new administration has outlined an ambitious reform agenda aimed at economic recovery and institutional restructuring. Observers note that the government’s ability to maintain transparency and uphold due process will be critical in sustaining public trust and delivering on its mandate.
