KATHMANDU: Chhabi Rijal, the Chief District Officer (CDO) of Kathmandu during the September 8, 2025 Gen-Z movement, has been arrested.
Rijal was apprehended from Subidhanagar on Tuesday morning in connection with the government’s handling of the protests.
Rijal’s arrest relates to killings that occurred during the violent suppression of the Gen Z protests on September 8 and 9, 2025. Following the protests, a commission led by former Justice Gauribahadur Karki was formed to investigate the incidents.
The commission’s report recommended legal action against Rijal, former Home Secretary Gokarn Mani Duwadi, former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Recommendations were also made for immediate action against former IGP Chandrakuber Khapung, Armed Police Force IGP Raju Aryal, and the then-chief of the National Investigation Department Hutaraj Thapa.
The cabinet approved the commission’s recommendations on March 27, instructing security agencies to implement the decisions. Following this, former Prime Minister Oli and former Home Minister Lekhak were arrested Saturday morning, and Rijal was taken into custody three days later.
During the protests, Rijal had ordered a curfew in the Baneshwor area starting at 12:30 pm on September 8. The commission’s report noted that despite provisions allowing the CDO to aim at lower extremities if necessary, most fatalities resulted from gunshots to the head and chest, indicating excessive use of force.
In his statement to the commission, Rijal claimed he had instructed police to fire rubber bullets at the knees, but evidence contradicted his statement. The report highlighted multiple lapses, including failure to adopt proper crowd control measures, negligence, and improper execution of duties, which contributed to the deaths.
Rijal has been recommended for prosecution under Section 182 of the Criminal Code, which prohibits negligence resulting in death. Investigations under subsection (1) of Section 182 could lead to a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a fine of up to Rs 30,000.
The commission concluded that Rijal’s mishandling and lack of proper authority use during the four-hour standoff between protesters and police near the Parliament complex significantly contributed to the fatalities.
Comment