The government held a late-night consultation with security chiefs following increasing pressure to arrest former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak over the indiscriminate shooting and killing of children and youth during the Gen Z movement.
Prime Minister Sushila Karki and Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal summoned and held discussions until midnight with key officials, including Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel, Home Secretary Rameshwar Dangal, Nepal Police Chief Chandra Kuber Khapung, Armed Police Force Chief Raju Aryal, and National Investigation Department Chief Tekendra Karki.
Gen Z leader Sudan Gurung and his team are piling intense pressure on the government, stating that the police are even refusing to register the complaint (FIR) against Oli and Lekhak. They have also launched a social media campaign demanding their arrest.
A few days ago, Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah met with PM Karki at Baluwatar, demanding an explanation for the delay in taking action against Oli and Lekhak. Gen Z leaders, families of those killed, and the injured from the movement are all demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of the two former officials.
This demand was also raised at a discussion with five Gen Z groups held at Baluwatar last Saturday. However, the government has stated that it has not proceeded with action against any officials from the previous government because the investigation commission, led by former Justice Gauri Bahadur Karki, is still working and its report is pending.
The commission has already directed the government to bar former PM Oli, former Home Minister Lekhak, and three former security officials from traveling abroad and to require permission should they need to leave the Kathmandu Valley.
Among those restricted, former Home Secretary Gokarna Mani Duwadi and the Chief District Officer of Kathmandu were removed from their posts and transferred. The former Chief of the National Investigation Department, Hutraj Thapa, has since retired.
An official attending the meeting told Nepalkhabar that the discussions at Baluwatar centered on the security situation and potential scenarios, given the mounting Gen Z pressure and plans by some groups to resume protests.
"Seventy-five people lost their lives in the movement. Various groups are demanding: who is responsible? Action must be taken," the official said. "Ensuring security and justice is legitimate, but how to proceed is still under discussion."
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