• Former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and ex-home minister Ramesh Lekhak arrested for their roles in the deadly crackdown on protesters.
• At least 77 people were killed during the September protests that led to the government's collapse.
• The arrests align with the new government's commitment to justice following a recent investigative commission's recommendations.
• The actions have sparked protests among Oli's supporters, demanding his release.
• Home Minister Sudan Gurung emphasized, "No one is above the law," marking the arrests as the beginning of justice.

In a significant move, Nepal's police arrested former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and ex-home minister Ramesh Lekhak on Saturday over their alleged roles in a violent crackdown on protesters during the September 2025 demonstrations. The detentions occurred less than 24 hours after Prime Minister Balendra Shah took office, following a parliamentary election held in the wake of the protests that resulted in the deaths of at least 77 individuals and more than 2,300 injuries, according to Channel News Asia, South China Morning Post, and Al Jazeera.

The arrests are in response to a government-backed commission's report, which recommended criminal charges against Oli and other officials for their negligence during the protests. Home Minister Gurung stated, "No one is above the law," indicating that this is only the beginning of justice for the victims of the protests, as reported by CBS News and India Times.

The commission's findings highlighted that while it could not confirm orders to open fire on protesters, there was a lack of effort to control the violence, leading to significant loss of life, including minors. Over 200 individuals were interrogated during the commission's investigation, compiling a comprehensive report on the events, noted by Los Angeles Times and India Times.

The reaction to these arrests has been mixed, with considerable unrest from Oli's supporters taking to the streets, protesting and demanding his release. Reports indicated altercations with police, leading to some clashes as they attempted to block roadways in opposition to the government, according to CBS News and Los Angeles Times.