National Human Rights Commission report: human rights violations during the Gen Z uprising

Key findings

Covers both 8 and 9 September; nearly 1,000 pages.

Oli, Lekhak and Prithvi Subba Gurung named as human rights violators.

Field commanders operated without clear guidelines or oversight.

Organised groups such as TOB infiltrated initially peaceful demonstrations.

The Army failed to prevent major damage to key government buildings and initially resisted cooperating with investigators.

Further investigation recommended for Rabi Lamichhane, 17 RSP figures, Gauri Bahadur Karki and Sushila Karki, among others.

A new law proposed with special courts and automatic suspension once charged.

Who did the commissions name — and for what?

These are commission recommendations, not court verdicts. Everyone is presumed innocent until a court rules otherwise.

Name	Position	Recommendation
KP Sharma Oli	Then prime minister	Human rights violator Failed to seek a peaceful resolution; authorised lethal weapons
Ramesh Lekhak	Then home minister	Human rights violator No proportionate use-of-force guidelines
Prithvi Subba Gurung	Then communications & IT minister	Human rights violator Social media ban and information control
Rabi Lamichhane	RSP chair	Further investigation Leaving Nakkhu prison and role in other inmates’ release, under Section 49 of the Prison Act
17 RSP lawmakers and officials (incl. Sudan Gurung, Manish Jha, Deepak Bohara)	—	Further investigation Whether statements and posts incited violence
Dan Bahadur Karki, Om Rana and others	Nepal Police	Further investigation Security management
Narayan Dutta Poudel	Armed Police Force	Further investigation Security management
Krishna Khanal	National Investigation Department	Further investigation Intelligence handling
Gauri Bahadur Karki	Chair, Karki Commission	Further investigation Social media comments before, during and after the protests
Sushila Karki	Former interim prime minister	Further investigation Possibly provocative public statements

What is this report?

The National Human Rights Commission investigated both days of the uprising (8–9 September 2025) for about six months and made public a report of nearly 1,000 pages on 27 May 2026. The investigation was led by Commissioner Dr. Lily Thapa.

Who was named, and for what?

The commission named three people as human rights violators: then PM KP Sharma Oli (for failing to seek a peaceful resolution and authorising lethal weapons), then Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak (for directly overseeing security forces without proportionate use-of-force guidelines) and then Communications Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung (for the social media ban and managing the information environment).

RSP chair Rabi Lamichhane, 17 RSP lawmakers and officials, several security officers, Karki Commission chair Gauri Bahadur Karki and former interim PM Sushila Karki were placed on a “further investigation” list. That is not a finding of guilt.

Proposed law

The NHRC proposed a legal framework with special courts for human rights violations, automatic suspension from public office once charged, and restorative options such as public apology and compensation with the victims’ consent. Proposed penalties include up to six months’ imprisonment, a fine of up to Rs 300,000 and a minimum five-year bar on standing for elected office.

What is missing?

The report makes no mention of Balen Shah — Kathmandu’s mayor at the time and now prime minister — and gives no reason for the omission.