Police Refers FIR Against Oli, Lekhak to Inquiry Commission

Citing lack of jurisdiction, the District Police Range, Kathmandu, has referred the First Information Report (FIR) against former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and then Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak to the Gauri Bahadur Karki-led inquiry commission.

Some family members of individuals killed during the Gen Z-led protests on September 8 and 9 visited the range Tuesday, October 7, demanding action against those responsible, Superintendent of Police (SP) Pawan Bhattarai told the state-owned RSS news agency.

Inquiry commission head Karki confirmed to RSS that the commission had received the complaints and said that further steps would follow after due study.

Earlier, on September 25, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced that the commission would investigate the incidents related to the Gen Z protests. 

Meanwhile, the commission stated on Tuesday that no government body needs to wait for its report to investigate or take action against those involved in criminal offences.

The commission’s mandate includes receiving and analysing petitions concerning human and material losses and recommending necessary actions.

The protests began on September 8, when youths in major cities across the country took to the streets against corruption and the ban on more than two dozen social media platforms imposed by the Oli government.

Tensions escalated after some demonstrators broke barricades and clashed with security forces. In Kathmandu, police deployed water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets to disperse crowds at New Baneshwar as protesters marched towards the Federal Parliament. A violent crackdown followed, with police opening fire. By the end of the day, 19 protesters were reported dead.

Although then Home Minister Lekhak resigned that evening and the government lifted the social media ban, anger only deepened. Defying curfew orders on September 9, mobs—reportedly infiltrated by various groups—vandalised and torched public and private properties, including residences of politicians, government buildings, courts, police stations, media houses, Bhatbhateni supermarkets, hotels, and vehicle showrooms.

The death toll has since crossed six dozen, while many others remain under treatment in hospitals.

On September 12, former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was sworn in as interim Prime Minister with a mandate to hold elections within six months. President Ram Chandra Paudel dissolved Parliament on her recommendation.

On September 15, the Cabinet, which included the newly appointed Energy, Home, and Finance ministers, decided in principle to establish a judicial inquiry commission into the crackdown and destruction during the protests.

(With inputs from RSS)