Kathmandu, September 29 — In a move that has captured national and international attention, Nepal’s interim government has officially barred former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and four top ex-officials from leaving the country as part of a high-stakes investigation into one of the nation’s deadliest civil unrests in recent memory.
What started as a youth-led protest on September 8 over a short-lived social media ban and long-standing frustration with corruption and economic pressure, rapidly spiraled into a violent uprising. The two-day chaos left at least 73 people dead, razed government buildings, and ultimately led to the fall of the sitting government.
The list of those now under travel restrictions includes:
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Former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli
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Former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak
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Former Head of National Investigation Department Hutaraj Thapa
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And two unnamed senior bureaucrats
These individuals are now restricted not only from international travel but must also seek permission to leave the Kathmandu Valley, as stated by Commission member Bigyan Raj Sharma. The restrictions came following strong recommendations from a government-appointed commission set up by Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki, who is currently steering the country towards elections scheduled for March 2026.
Interior Minister Om Prakash Aryal confirmed to AFP that the travel bans are “already in effect.”
While the investigation continues, former PM Oli has deflected blame, alleging that “infiltrators” triggered the bloodshed and suggesting that external sources supplied weapons used during the chaos.
The economic cost of the unrest has also been staggering. According to the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), the private sector—including the hotel, automobile, and retail industries—suffered a combined loss of over USD 600 million.
A Nation at a Crossroads
Beyond the politics, numbers, and policies, this is a human tragedy.
Families lost loved ones. Businesses lost decades of work. Young people, whose voices sparked the movement, are left in confusion and fear. The grief is still raw across Nepal, and what the nation needs now more than ever is accountability, empathy, and hope.
The world watches not only to see who is held responsible, but to witness whether Nepal can rise from this moment stronger, more just, and more unified than before.
