Nepali protesters demand release of detained ex-PM

KATHMANDU, Mar 30: Hundreds of Nepalis on Monday demanded the release of former prime minister KP Sharma Oli, arrested for his alleged role in a deadly crackdown on 2025 protests that ousted him.

Oli, 74, and ex-home minister Ramesh Lekhak were arrested in pre-dawn raids on Saturday, a day after Prime Minister Balendra Shah was sworn in following the first elections since the September uprising.

Heavy police deployments on Monday barred the protests as they neared the charred old parliament building, set on fire in the September violence in which at least 76 people were killed.

"It is the politics of revenge," said protester Balkumari BK, aged 37. "This is a political vendetta," she added.

The arrests of Oli and Lekhak came after an inquiry commission recommended that the four-time ex-prime minister and other officials be prosecuted for failing to stop security forces from opening fire on demonstrators.

"Release KP Oli," around 300 protesters chanted. "Scrap the commission report".

Oli, who has health issues, appeared in court via video-link from hospital on Sunday, where an order was given to extend his detention for five days.

The two men were arrested over their alleged involvement in the protest crackdown. Neither has been charged, and both deny responsibility for the violence.

Lawyers for Oli have submitted a petition to the Supreme Court for his release. Court spokesperson Arjun Prasad Koirala said the process was "ongoing".

The commission report said statements given by Oli and Lekhak, claiming ignorance of the violence, were an attempt to shift responsibility and amounted to "criminal negligence".    �"AFP