Nepal arrests senior ex-official over protest crackdown

Nepali police arrested a former Kathmandu senior official on Tuesday, a spokesman told AFP, the latest high-profile detention linked to a deadly crackdown on youth-led protests last year.

In the days since a new government took power following elections, former prime minister KP Sharma Oli and ex-home minister Ramesh Lekhak have already been arrested for their alleged involvement in the 2025 crackdown that killed at least 76 people.

An inquiry commission into the violence had recommended that Oli and Lekhak, as well as the capital Kathmandu's former chief district officer Chhabilal Rijal, be investigated under laws addressing deaths caused by negligence.

On Tuesday, Rijal was "arrested to further enquire about the force used during the September 8 and 9 uprising, based on the investigation commission's report," police spokesman Abi Narayan Kafle told AFP.

"His case is similar to that of the former prime minister and the former home minister."

Rijal, in a statement to the commission, had said that he had given a "verbal order to fire rubber bullets aimed below the knee", and insisted that he "did not give an order to shoot (live) bullets".

Oli and Lekhak both deny responsibility for the violence.

They were arrested in pre-dawn raids on Saturday -- a day after Prime Minister Balendra Shah was sworn in, capping months of interim administration following the anti-corruption protests in September.

Neither Oli nor Lekhak have been charged, and they remain in custody -- the former prime minister in hospital -- pending further investigation and the outcome of a petition at the Supreme Court.

Supporters of Oli have protested in Kathmandu demanding his release, and police deployed on Tuesday in anticipation of further demonstrations.

In a separate case relating to money laundering, former energy minister Deepak Khadka has also been arrested.

The centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) swept March 5 elections, taking 182 of the 275 seats in the House of Representatives, just two short of a two-thirds majority.

The new parliament is expected to convene for its first session on Thursday.