KATHMANDU: The digital flames of Nepal’s Gen Z uprising are still burning—and now, they’re targeting names at the top.
A fresh social media campaign is calling for the arrest of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, branding them “murderers” for their roles in the deadly crackdown that left 72 protesters dead on September 8 and 9. Viral posters warn: “Arrest the killers, or we will be forced to take action.”
Sudan Gurung, coordinator of ‘Haami Nepal’, also shared the posters online, urging authorities to act. He called for a viral campaign to pressure their arrest, accusing the former leaders of orchestrating the crackdown on Gen Z protesters. During the movement, a total of 72 people died nationwide.
While police shootings in Kathmandu’s parliament precinct killed 19 protesters on September 8, then-PM Oli resisted stepping down. He finally resigned on September 9, reportedly escaping via army helicopter to an undisclosed location.
The protests left a trail of destruction, including fires at Singha Durbar, the parliament building, the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar, the Presidential Palace, and various political leaders’ homes.
In the aftermath, the passports of Oli, Lekhak, and other key figures have been suspended, and they are now barred from leaving Kathmandu.
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