Confidential Nepalese document recommends former premier face charges over fatal unrest

A leaked report has revealed that a Nepal commission is advocating for the prosecution of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in relation to the fatal September 2025 uprising that led to the downfall of his government, resulting in the deaths of at least 77 people.

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The uprising, which occurred on September 8 and 9, was initially sparked by a brief social media ban, but ultimately tapped into deep-seated frustrations over economic hardship, claiming the lives of numerous young people.

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KP Sharma Oli, a 74-year-old Marxist leader who has served as prime minister four times, was recently defeated in the polls by 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, whose Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) secured a landslide victory on promises to address corruption, fix the economy, and oust the ageing elite.

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The commission's recommendations, as outlined in the leaked report, were made public ahead of the swearing-in ceremony for newly elected members of parliament, which is scheduled to take place later on Thursday.

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According to the report, the commission has decided to recommend that the Government of Nepal conduct an investigation, inquiry, and prosecution against former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who was the executive head at the time of the uprising.

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At least 19 young people lost their lives on the first day of protests, and to date, no one has been convicted in connection with the killings.

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The report also suggests that former Interior Minister Ramesh Lekhak and ex-police chief Chandra Kuber Khapung should be investigated and prosecuted, citing their roles in the events that unfolded.

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Ramesh Lekhak, who bore overall responsibility for home administration, security agencies, and maintaining law and order, is accused of not making any effort to prevent further human casualties, along with former Prime Minister Oli.

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The report notes that while there is no evidence of a direct order to shoot, the lack of effort to stop or control the firing led to the deaths of numerous minors, with victims in 48 out of 63 completed autopsies dying from bullet wounds, primarily to the chest or head.

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The nationwide unrest in September resulted in the parliament and government offices being set ablaze, ultimately leading to the ouster of former Prime Minister Oli.

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Following the violence, former Chief Justice Sushila Karki took on the role of interim prime minister and established a commission to investigate the events, with the commission's report being submitted this month.

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Protesters have been demanding the release of the report's findings, and commission member Bigyan Raj Sharma revealed that the team had questioned over 200 people and submitted a 900-page report, accompanied by more than 8,000 additional pages of evidence.

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Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki's office announced on Wednesday evening that she would release the report, although the official version has yet to be made public.

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The March 5 election resulted in a new 275-seat lower house of parliament, with the RSP securing a commanding majority of 182 seats.

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Newly elected lawmakers are set to take the oath of office later on Thursday in the newly constructed parliament building, according to parliament secretariat spokesman Ekram Giri.

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Balen Shah, the leader of the RSP, is expected to be sworn in as prime minister on Friday.