Former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak Arrested Following Probe Commission Report on 'GenZ' Protests

Former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has been arrested based on the report of the investigation commission formed to probe the human and material damage that occurred during the 'GenZ' protests on Bhadra 23 and 24.

He was taken into custody by a team from the Metropolitan Crime Investigation Office and the Armed Police Force at his residence in Katunje, Bhaktapur, at 5:40 AM on Saturday, after being served an arrest warrant.

The investigation commission's report seriously accused then Home Minister Lekhak of 'criminal negligence' and recommended legal action against him. The commission recommended that the Government of Nepal investigate, inquire, and prosecute then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, and Inspector General of Police Chandrakuber Khapung as executive heads, in accordance with Sections 181 and 182 of the Muluki Criminal Code, 2074, based on the offense.

According to the commission's findings, although Lekhak, as Home Minister, held the entire responsibility for peace and security, he did not play an effective role despite gunfire and human casualties at the Parliament building premises for nearly four hours on Bhadra 23. The commission primarily based its conclusion on his inaction in coordinating among security agencies and failing to order a 'ceasefire' while the number of casualties was rising. Furthermore, the commission concluded that due to the failure to analyze potential risks for the following day (Bhadra 24) and formulate a security strategy, and the failure to declare the affected areas as riot zones in time, arson and vandalism occurred across the country.

Meanwhile, during his testimony before the investigation commission, former Home Minister Lekhak defended himself against the allegations. In his statement, he claimed that he fulfilled his constitutional and legal responsibility to maintain overall peace and security as the Home Minister. Lekhak stated that the Home Ministry had been in constant coordination with the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and National Investigation Department after receiving information about rising discontent through social media and other channels before the incident began. Lekhak asserted that he was active in policy direction, coordination, and political management, but there was no practice or legal provision for him to give direct orders in the field.

In his testimony, Lekhak mentioned that at the National Security Council meeting held at Baluwatar on Bhadra 22, security agencies reported that the demonstration on Bhadra 23 would be peaceful and that no concrete information about violence had been received. He claimed to have instructed security chiefs to coordinate to ensure no casualties or deaths occurred during the use of force during the demonstration. He told the commission that while his view was to keep the building secure during the clash at the Parliament building premises on the 23rd, he never ordered the firing of shots, stating that such a decision is made by the officials deployed in the field.

Lekhak stated that after the demonstration became violent towards Baneshwor, he immediately informed the Prime Minister, Defense Minister, and Chief of Army Staff, and resigned taking moral responsibility after the incident. He argued that while the demands raised by the GenZ generation were fundamentally correct, the tragic incidents occurred due to infiltration in the movement, leading to attacks on the state's historical structures. He mentioned that his own houses in Naikap and Mahendranagar were also vandalized and set on fire, acknowledging with self-criticism that there were weaknesses in the state's information system and dialogue with the youth. However, since the commission did not consider his statement and arguments sufficient and determined that he could not be absolved of criminal responsibility, the police recommended his arrest and the initiation of legal proceedings.

The arrest was made immediately following the decision by the cabinet of the government led by Balen Shah, formed just on Friday, to implement the report, with the active involvement of Home Minister Sudhan Gurung.