Ex-Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli Faces Legal Action Over Deadly Gen-Z Protests as NHRC Demands Accountability

Nepal's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has formally recommended legal action against former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, holding him primarily responsible for the deadly September 2025 Gen-Z protest violence that left 76 people dead . The commission also named two former ministers and several senior security officials for human rights violations, urging the government to implement sweeping reforms and prosecute those accountable .

NHRC Blames Oli's Social Media Ban as Primary Catalyst

The NHRC's 29-page investigation report explicitly attributes the escalation of violence to Oli's refusal to lift an unconstitutional social media ban, which it cites as the direct trigger for the protests . The commission stated that Oli failed to authorize army deployment despite a complete breakdown of law and order, directly contributing to the severity of casualties .

Sweeping Penalties Recommended: Five-Year Political Ban and Special Court

The commission recommended new legislation to prosecute human rights violations, including penalties of up to six months in prison or a fine of Rs 300,000, trial in a special court, and a five-year ban on standing for election or public office . Pending the enactment of this law, the NHRC directed that all named individuals currently holding public positions be suspended for at least six months .

Victim Compensation and Institutional Reforms Urged

The NHRC called for free lifetime medical treatment for all injured victims, employment for at least one family member of each deceased, disability support for life for permanently disabled individuals, and compensation for families of the 21 killed in arson on September 9 . For institutional reforms, the commission urged Nepal to enact clear legal provisions on army deployment in internal disturbances and strengthen coordination between the National Investigation Department, APF, and Nepal Police .

Political Tensions Rise as Government Faces Accountability Deadline

The NHRC's move has intensified political tensions in Nepal, with opposition groups demanding accountability over alleged rights violations during the protests . The commission submitted the report to the government on Wednesday, stating it is now the government's responsibility to report back within three months on the steps taken to implement the recommendations .

Former Nepal Police chief Chandra Kuber Khapung, former Armed Police Force chief Raju Aryal, and former National Investigation Department chief Hut Raj Thapa have been placed on a 'negative list,' effectively barring their appointment or nominations for public positions . The commission also recommended departmental action against current inspectors general of the Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force for directing a crackdown that drew widespread international condemnation .