Former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak Denies Ordering Lethal Force in Gen-Z Protest Crackdown

Kathmandu. The statement of former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, who was arrested on charges of suppressing the Gen-Z protests held on Bhadau 23 and 24, has concluded.

Investigating officers and the public prosecutor recorded his statement on Wednesday evening. During the investigation, officers questioned Lekhak about the circumstances that led to the firing of shots in Baneshwor, Kathmandu, on Bhadau 23, which resulted in the deaths of teenagers. 

In his statement to the investigating officers, Lekhak denied allegations that he ordered the firing that caused the deaths of the teenagers. The inquiry commission led by Gauri Bahadur Karki had recommended that Lekhak and then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli be prosecuted for homicide. The police arrested Lekhak on Chait 14 to implement that report. 

Lekhak claimed that crowd control does not fall under his jurisdiction. He stated in his testimony, 'Crowd control is not within my scope of work.' Noting that crowd control is decided by the District Security Committee, Lekhak added, 'If anyone asked, I might have said to act according to the law.' 

Lekhak stated that the use of force during riots is a matter decided by officers deployed on the ground based on the situation. He said in his statement, 'There is no practice of the Home Minister giving direct orders in such matters. There is no legal provision or practical exercise for the IGP to take written or verbal orders from the Home Minister for the final use of force.' 

Lekhak denied that the IGP sought orders from him or that he ordered the firing. 

Stating that the Home Minister does not give direct orders in the field, he said, 'However, I clarify that I fulfilled my responsibility of providing policy guidance, coordination, and necessary facilitation from the political level.'  

Lekhak maintained that the responsibility for maintaining peace and security has been carried out through agencies under the Ministry of Home Affairs according to the law. In his statement, he mentioned that he had instructed the Home Secretary and heads of security agencies to ensure that there are no casualties when using force, to prevent any loss of life, and to manage peace and security in a coordinated manner.

An investigating officer, quoting Lekhak's statement, said, 'I had instructed them to be vigilant against infiltration and my view was that the Parliament building must be protected. However, I did not give any order for the final use of force, i.e., firing.'