Passports of Former PM Oli and Four Top Officials Frozen Over Gen Z Protest Crackdown

KalimNews | Kathmandu | September 29, 2025 : In a major development following the violent suppression of the Gen Z protests earlier this month, the Government of Nepal has officially frozen the passports of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and four high-ranking officials who served under his administration. 

The action, taken on Sunday, comes on the recommendation of the judicial commission tasked with investigating the deadly crackdown that resulted in 75 deaths, including 19 fatalities on the first day of the protests, September 8.

The Ministry of Home Affairs implemented the travel bans to ensure that those under investigation remain within the country and are available for ongoing inquiries. In addition to the international travel restriction, the five individuals have also been barred from leaving the Kathmandu Valley, according to officials.

Those named in the passport freeze order are:

• KP Sharma Oli, former Prime Minister

• Ramesh Lekhak, former Home Minister

• Gokarna Mani Duwadi, former Home Secretary

• Hutaraj Thapa, then Chief of the National Investigation Department

• Chhabi Rijal, then Chief District Officer of Kathmandu

The decision was confirmed by Bigyan Raj Sharma, a member of the judicial commission formed on September 21 and chaired by former judge Gauri Bahadur Karki. Karki emphasized that the move is aimed at ensuring accountability and maintaining the integrity of the investigation. He also noted that the commission may request additional resources from the home ministry to complete its work effectively.

“This is one of the most high-profile actions taken since the formation of the interim government following the Gen Z uprising,” Karki said. The interim administration, led by Prime Minister Sushila Karki, has committed to a full and transparent probe into the excessive use of force against demonstrators who were protesting corruption and a ban on social media.

Background: The Crackdown and Its Aftermath

On September 8, security forces opened fire near the federal parliament building in New Baneshwar, killing 19 young protesters. The protests had erupted nationwide, led largely by Gen Z youth activists, and were initially peaceful. However, the situation quickly escalated after the police’s use of live ammunition, leading to indiscriminate violence, arson, and further bloodshed on September 9.

The death toll eventually reached 75, and hundreds of protesters were reportedly arrested, beaten, or went missing. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), in its preliminary monitoring report issued on Friday, strongly criticized the then-government’s response. It noted that the first half of the September 8 protest was peaceful, and that police firing triggered the subsequent chaos.

“The government failed to anticipate the scale of the demonstrations, and the demoralization of security forces contributed to the heavy loss of life and property,” the NHRC stated. It also underlined the urgent need for accountability, justice, and institutional reform.

Political Fallout and Growing Public Anger

The decision to freeze the passports has been met with sharp political backlash, particularly from the CPN-UML, the second-largest party in the recently dissolved House of Representatives, still led by KP Oli. At a party secretariat meeting in Bhaktapur on Sunday, the UML denounced the move as a “political vendetta” and an attack on democratic norms.

“This is an act of political revenge,” the party’s official statement read, reflecting the tense political climate surrounding the probe.

Oli himself publicly lashed out at the Sushila Karki-led government during a gathering of loyal party cadres on Saturday, one day before the government’s decision was announced.

“They’re talking about revoking my privileges, withholding my passport, filing cases against me. This is creating national insecurity,” Oli claimed. He accused the government of diverting attention from real governance challenges and using state machinery for retaliation.

Despite the political noise, public sentiment remains strongly in favor of a credible investigation and legal action. Families of the victims and human rights organizations have consistently demanded not just compensation and public acknowledgement, but also legal consequences for those in command during the crackdown.

Whether the judicial commission’s work will lead to prosecutions or fade into political compromise, as seen in past inquiries, remains to be seen. However, the freezing of passports and imposition of mobility restrictions on senior figures signals a shift toward tangible measures of accountability—at least in the initial stages.

The Gen Z uprising has left an indelible mark on Nepal’s political landscape. The toppling of the Oli government on September 9, just one day after the first wave of protests, was a direct consequence of public outrage over state violence. The current interim administration faces the critical task of restoring public trust through transparency, justice, and institutional reform—starting with how it handles this high-stakes investigation.

As the judicial commission continues its work, the nation—and the international community—will be watching closely to see whether Nepal delivers justice for the victims of one of its darkest moments in recent memory.