KATHMANDU, MAY 27 The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has held former prime minister KP Sharma Oli primarily responsible for the September 2025 Gen Z protest violence that left 76 people dead, recommending legal action against him along with two former ministers and several senior security officials for human rights violations. The recommendation follows a detailed investigation by a six-member NHRC committee led by Commission Member Lilli Magar Thapa, which was endorsed in the commission's 177th meeting chaired by NHRC President Top Bahadur Magar. According to the report, the protests that began peacefully at Maitighar Mandala escalated into widespread violence on September 8–9, 2025, resulting in 76 deaths involving protesters, civilians, police personnel and detainees across multiple incidents. The commission found that 42 protesters and civilians were killed on September 8 in Kathmandu's Baneshwar area after security forces opened fire, with forensic evidence indicating the use of live 5.5 mm and 7.7 mm bullets. A further 23 people died during hospital treatment, while three police personnel were beaten to death on September 9 and 21 others were killed in arson incidents nationwide. Ten detainees were also killed on September 10 during alleged escape attempts from correction centres and prisons. The NHRC termed the social media restriction imposed under a 2023 directive unconstitutional and recommended action against former communications minister Prithvi Subba Gurung for implementing the measure. The commission, however, said the demonstration was later infiltrated by organised groups that incited violence and directed protesters toward restricted government areas. The NHRC also said hat the groups of 15-20 bikers, with 'TOB' tattooed on their hands and bodies, arrived and incited the crowd to move forward aggressively. It also cited evidence of social media mobilisation, including calls to bring Molotov cocktails and circulation of AI-generated images depicting attacks on state institutions before the violence erupted. The commission has held former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli primarily responsible for the human rights violations, stating that his refusal to lift the unconstitutional social media ban was the direct trigger for the protests, and that he failed to authorise army deployment through the National Security Council despite a complete breakdown of law and order. The report also recommended holding former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak accountable for failures in security coordination and command during the unrest. The commission further recommended departmental action against: then-Additional IGP Dan Bahadur Karki; Deputy IGP Om Bikram Rana; Senior SP Bishwa Adhikari; then-Additional APF IGP Narayan Prasad Paudel; APF SP Jeevan KC; then-CDO of Kathmandu Chhabilal Rijal; then-National Investigation Department Director Krishna Khanal; and all field commanders deployed in the Baneshwar and parliament area on September 8. Three retired officers, former IGP Chandra Kuber Khapung, former APF IGP Raju Aryal, and former NID Chief Munaraj Thapa, were recommended for action and barred from future government appointments. The investigation found that police lacked basic crowd control equipment , helmets, face shields, body armour, bulletproof vehicles, water cannons, and that this inadequacy contributed to the escalation to lethal force. The NHRC also questioned the delayed deployment of the Nepal Army, noting that soldiers were mobilised only late on September 9 after major government buildings, including parliament and the Supreme Court, had already been attacked and set on fire. The commission found the Army's explanation, that no order had been received from the Council of Ministers, inconsistent with evidence that the Army deployed at 10 PM without such an order, and that the Army garrison already stationed inside Singha Durbar made no apparent effort to defend the building. The commission directed the government to address the Army Chief and the commanders stationed at Singha Durbar and Shital Niwas regarding their failure to protect national assets and citizens' human rights. The NHRC also said that the exit of the RSP chair Rabi Lamichhane from the Nakkhu Jail. and the roles of jailer Joshi, RSP leaders Hari Dhakal and Manish Jha should be probed. It also said that the roles of the social media influencers, social personalities, protest organisers such as Ganesh Karki, Sulabh Kharel, Bablu Gupta, Rakshya Bam, Krishna Karki, Toshima Karki, Rajiv Khatri, Shom Sharma, KP Khana, Deepak bohara, Manish Jha, Jwala Sangroula, Hemraj Thapa, Bimal Pandta, Khem Raj Saud, Purushottam Yadab, Chair of Hami Nepal Sudan Gurung, Aman Pratap Adhikari, Bibek Thapaliya, Sisan Baniya, Ashika Tamang, Asim Man Basnet, Bhagya Neupane, Tanka Dahal, Victor Poudel, Ankit Malla, Umesh Bohara, Shiva Yadav, Binod Deuba, Saru Sunuwar, Ravi Kiran Hamal, Hari Dhakal, Nishchal Basnet, Pashupati Khadka, Durga Prasai, Urja Baral, Jerry Tamrakar, Hem Sagar Bidrohi, Buddha Chhiring, Santosh Rajabadi, Amit Khanal, Deepak Devkota, Gaurab Baral, Himani Rajya Lakshmi Singh and Nishan Mainali, among other who had expressed opinions regarding the Gen Z protest before, during nad after the event should be probed to determine whether or not they had any roles in the loss of lives and property and whether or not they incited the protestors. The report also said that the roles of former primer minister Sushila Karki, former home minister Om Prakash Aryal and former bureaucrat Bhim Upadhyay should be probed to determine whether or not their expressions incited violence. It also said the roles of former judge Gauri Bahadur Karki, who headed a separate probe committee that investigated the Gen Z protest violence should also be probed. The commission recommended new legislation to prosecute human rights violations committed during the incident. The new law, the commission recommended, should provide for up to six months imprisonment or a Rs 300,000 fine or both; trial in a special court; a five-year ban on standing for election or appointment to public office; a three-year bar on administrative responsibilities; and a three-year travel ban. Pending enactment of the law, the commission directed that all named individuals currently holding any public position be suspended for at least six months. The commission recommended that the government provide free lifetime medical treatment to all injured who remain under treatment; ensure employment or self-employment for at least one family member of each deceased; provide disability support for life to those left permanently disabled; and provide compensation to families of the 21 killed in arson on September 9, including the 12 still unidentified. For institutional reforms, the commission recommended that Nepal enact clear legal provisions on army deployment in internal disturbances; strengthen coordination between the National Investigation Department, APF, and Nepal Police; review the Local Administration Act 2028 regarding crowd control authority; and provide adequate equipment and human rights-based crowd management training to police riot units.