In a landmark decision for post-protest accountability, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has officially recommended legal action against former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, and former Inspector General of Police Chandra Kuber Khapung.
The report, submitted Friday by a study team led by NHRC member Lily Thapa, concludes that the high-ranking officials are responsible for the “atrocities” and “indiscriminate firing” that led to 77 deaths during the youth-led uprising last September.
Specific Accountability for Lethal Force
The NHRC investigation, which involved recording statements from 90 individuals and analyzing over 400 videos, found that the “zero-tolerance” approach adopted by the then-administration directly escalated a peaceful gathering into a deadly conflict.
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KP Sharma Oli (Former PM): Implicated for failing to anticipate the magnitude of the movement and for his role as the head of the National Security Council, which approved the deployment of lethal crowd-control measures.
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Ramesh Lekhak (Former Home Minister): Faulted for his leadership of the Central Security Committee and the subsequent failure to prevent excessive force.
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Chandra Kuber Khapung (Former IGP): Recommended for criminal investigation regarding the command responsibility of the police force during the September 8 firing.
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Chhabi Rijal (Former Kathmandu CDO): Cited for administrative and legal lapses in managing the district’s security and declaring restricted zones.
Findings on the Ground
The report highlights that the protests on the morning of September 8 were organic and peaceful. However, the use of live ammunition—striking many victims in the head and chest—was a clear breach of both national law and international human rights obligations.
“The failure was not just in the streets, but in the halls of power where intelligence was ignored and dissent was securitized,” stated the NHRC report.
Next Steps for Justice
The Commission has also called for an investigation into incumbent police chief Dan Bahadur Karki and has urged the current interim government, led by Sushila Karki, to provide immediate reparations to the families of the deceased and the over 2,000 injured citizens.
While the report marks a significant step, its implementation now rests with the incoming government following the March 5 elections.