The National Human Rights Commission has implicated KP Sharma Oli and top officials for the deadly September protests, demanding a special court and legal action against human rights violators.

Nepal’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has explicitly implicated former prime minister KP Sharma Oli, along with his key cabinet members and senior security chiefs, for gross human rights violations during the deadly Gen Z protests in September 2025.

The comprehensive investigation report, prepared by a committee led by NHRC member Lily Thapa and submitted to the government on Wednesday, directly links the political leadership’s decisions to the catastrophic events of September 8 and 9. The two-day movement, which began as a youth-led demonstration, rapidly escalated into widespread violence, resulting in the deaths of 76 people, including 17 unarmed protesters shot dead near the federal Parliament in Kathmandu. Thousands of public and private buildings were looted, vandalized, and set on fire.

Alongside Oli, the commission has held erstwhile home minister Ramesh Lekhak and former communications and information technology minister Prithvi Subba Gurung accountable. According to the NHRC, the leadership completely failed to anticipate the magnitude of the unrest and execute their constitutional responsibilities, allowing the state machinery to collapse into chaos.

The Social Media Ban and the Weaponization of AI

According to the NHRC report, the primary catalyst for the unprecedented youth uprising was the Oli administration’s abrupt decision to ban social media platforms. The report identifies Oli as the “main culprit” and central figure behind the escalation, noting that he persistently refused advice from his own ministers, including Gurung, to lift the restrictive ban despite rapidly deteriorating security conditions.

What began as a peaceful demonstration on the morning of September 8 morphed into a violent confrontation due to excessive use of force by the state in the afternoon. However, the commission also uncovered a darker, organized element to the chaos. The investigation concluded that technology was systematically misused to mislead security personnel and psychologically prepare protesters for violence.

AI-generated photos and videos falsely depicting the Parliament building, Singha Durbar, and other vital state structures engulfed in flames were circulated widely online before the physical destruction even began. The commission described this sophisticated misuse of technology as a “weapon” that actively sowed confusion, incited inflammatory activities by groups like the TOB, and fuelled the nationwide escalation of organized criminal acts.

Constitutional Provisions and Sweeping Accountability Framework

Invoking Article 249 (2)(c) of the Constitution, the NHRC has officially named Oli, Lekhak, and Gurung as human rights violators. Because Nepal’s existing legal framework currently lacks specific provisions to strictly penalize political leaders for such overreaches and crimes against humanity, the commission has issued a stringent 7-point recommendation urging the government to enact retrospective legislation.

Drawing on Supreme Court precedents, the proposed legislation would establish a Special Court specifically to adjudicate these cases. The recommended penalties for the guilty include up to six months of imprisonment, a fine of up to Rs 300,000, or both.

More significantly for the political future of the implicated leaders, the commission has proposed barring those convicted from contesting elections or holding any politically appointed positions for a minimum of six years. This measure would effectively block Oli and others from participating in the next House of Representatives elections. The framework also calls for a three-year ban on foreign travel and holding administrative responsibilities, alongside a strict rule that any public official facing such charges must be automatically suspended from office immediately upon a case being filed.

Security Failures and the Passive Role of the Army

In tandem with political sanctions, the rights watchdog has come down heavily on the nation’s security apparatus. The NHRC has recommended that former Inspector General of Nepal Police Chandra Kuber Khapung, former Armed Police Force chief Raju Aryal, and former National Investigation Department chief Hut Raj Thapa be placed on a “negative list,” forever barring them from public appointments. Furthermore, the commission has directed the government to initiate swift departmental action against incumbent police chiefs, including Nepal Police IG Dan Bahadur Karki and APF IG Narayan Datta Paudel, as well as several field commanders deployed in the Kathmandu Valley.

The most glaring security critique, however, was reserved for the Nepali Army. The report raised grave concerns regarding the army’s passivity during the peak of the violence. On September 9, as mobs vandalized the presidential residence, the Supreme Court, and commercial centres, the army remained largely inactive despite requests for assistance from Kathmandu’s chief district officer.

The military was only officially deployed at 10:00 PM on September 9, well after major structures were gutted and dozens of lives were lost. The commission condemned the army’s delayed response and criticized Chief of Army Staff Ashok Raj Sigdel for failing to provide adequate cooperation during the investigation, noting that army officials only submitted written responses through closed questionnaires after the probe was finalized.

The RSP Connection and Prison Vandalism

The NHRC’s sweeping investigation also extended its scrutiny to 52 other individuals, notably including Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) chair Rabi Lamichhane. The report highlighted the events surrounding Lamichhane’s release from Nakkhu Jail on September 9.

According to the commission, prison officials and a large mob accompanied Lamichhane upon his release, which directly triggered subsequent, highly destructive attacks on correctional facilities across the country. The chaos facilitated the illegal release of numerous prisoners and juvenile detainees. The commission has recommended detailed criminal investigations into Lamichhane, former Nakkhu Jail chief Satya Raj Joshi, and RSP leaders Ganesh Parajuli and Hari Dhakal to establish their precise culpability in the unrest.

Legal Reforms and International Ramifications

The release of the NHRC’s report has sent shockwaves through Kathmandu’s legal and political circles. Under Section 17 of the NHRC Act, the sitting government has a strict three-month window to implement these recommendations.

Human rights activists and legal experts have widely welcomed the unprecedented boldness of the report. NHRC member Mihir Thakur emphasized that this marks the first time the commission has explicitly recommended criminal prosecution and the creation of a special court for top-tier political leadership. “There has been a tendency to limit accountability to departmental action, while retired officials escape consequences entirely,” Thakur said. “The ball is now in the government’s court.”

Advocates assert that the report carries massive international weight. Former Amnesty International Nepal chair Charan Prasai noted that if the government ignores these binding measures, it will face intense scrutiny in global forums, including the United Nations mechanisms and Nepal’s Universal Periodic Review.

While some critics argue that implicating too many individuals might dilute targeted accountability or that retrospective laws could face constitutional hurdles, the consensus remains that the NHRC has established a historic precedent. By demanding that the highest levels of power answer for the tragedies of the Gen Z protests, the commission is actively challenging the deep-rooted culture of impunity that has long plagued Nepal.