Nepal Probe Panel Finds Gen Z Protest Crackdown Violated Rights, Recommends Accountability

Nepal’s interim government has released a long-awaited probe report detailing the September 2025 crackdown on Gen Z protesters in Kathmandu, revealing excessive use of force that resulted in multiple deaths and injuries. The report, compiled by a commission led by former Justice Gauri Bahadur Karki, was submitted to then‑Prime Minister Sushila Karki in March and comes just a day before the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is expected to formally nominate its Prime Ministerial candidate.

The September 2025 protests, driven by frustrations among Nepal’s younger generation over unemployment, corruption, and limited political representation, began as peaceful demonstrations in Kathmandu before spreading to other regions. Activists, students, and young professionals demanded transparency, job creation, and electoral reforms. However, the situation escalated into violent confrontations, with security forces deploying tear gas, batons, and live ammunition, resulting in multiple casualties.

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Over six months, the Karki-led commission conducted extensive investigations, interviewing hundreds of witnesses, examining security logs, and reviewing official communications. The report concluded that former Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli and then-Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak were directly responsible for authorising disproportionate force, reportedly recommending criminal prosecution against both leaders.

Leaked sections indicate they instructed security agencies to “neutralise” the protests, prioritising regime stability over citizens’ rights. The Nepal Police and Armed Police Force were criticised for firing live rounds without provocation and failing to adhere to international crowd control norms.

Beyond immediate accountability, the report underscores deeper socio-economic grievances fueling unrest, including chronic unemployment, rising living costs, and inadequate opportunities in emerging sectors such as IT and exports. The commission has urged institutional reforms in security forces and policy measures to address structural inequities. Civil society groups see the report as a historic opportunity to end impunity for political leaders in Nepal.

The release of the report coincides with the RSP central committee’s meeting to elect its parliamentary party leader, expected to be engineer-rapper and social media figure Balendra Shah. Meanwhile, activists and young citizens have expressed mixed reactions on social media, praising the transparency but questioning whether justice will follow.

Nepal’s media have highlighted the report’s potential political and social ramifications, noting that recommending criminal charges against a former Prime Minister is unprecedented in the country’s democratic history. Observers predict that the findings may influence the new government’s approach to youth engagement, governance reforms, and security sector accountability, while keeping public attention sharply focused on the promises of justice and systemic change.

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