Home Minister Sudan Gurung has called the high-profile arrests of former prime minister and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, and former home minister Ramesh Lekhak the beginning of justice.
Addressing the situation, Gurung emphasized that the government's actions were not driven by personal or political animosity.
"We have taken former prime minister KP Sharma Oli and outgoing home minister Ramesh Lekhak into custody. This is not an act of vendetta against anyone, it is merely the beginning of justice. I am confident that the country will now take a new direction," Home Minister Gurung stated.
Police apprehended both Oli and Lekhak early Saturday morning based on the recommendations of the Inquiry Commission led by Gauri Bahadur Karki regarding the incidents of September 8 and 9 last year.
Prior to the arrest, as a large police force descended upon his residence in Gundu, Chairman Oli summoned senior advocates Ramesh Badal and Tikaram Bhattarai to his home.
UML central member Ram Kumari Jhakri stated that police arrived early in the morning to execute the arrest with an emergency warrant. UML leaders and cadres attempted to block the police from entering the residence, leading to a brief period of pushing and shoving. Supporters at the scene alleged that police resorted to a lathi charge during the confrontation.
The crackdown follows a Cabinet meeting held on Friday, which decided to implement the findings of the commission investigating the September incidents. Immediately after that meeting, Home Minister Gurung had held a series of consultations with security chiefs to coordinate the operation.
