Nepal violence: K P Sharma Oli denies shootout order, says 'bullets were fired from automatic guns not with police'

Nepal’s deposed prime minister K P Sharma Oli has denied that his government ordered security forces to open fire during the September 8 “Gen Z” protests that left at least 19 people dead.

“The government didn’t order to shoot at the demonstrators,” the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) chairman said in a Constitution Day message on Friday. “The bullets were fired at the protesters from automatic guns, which were not possessed by the police personnel, and this must be investigated upon.”

Oli alleged that “infiltrating conspirators” had turned the peaceful demonstrations violent. “The infiltrating conspirators turned the agitation violent, and this way our youths were killed,” he said, while demanding a formal inquiry into the incident.

The two-day protests against alleged corruption and a ban on social media left at least 72 people dead, including three policemen. Oli resigned on September 9, a day after hundreds of protesters stormed his office demanding accountability for the deaths.

In a Facebook post, Oli also pointed to the arson attacks that followed his resignation, claiming that government buildings, the Supreme Court, and Nepal’s national map were set ablaze. “I don’t want to elaborate on the conspiracies behind these incidents, time will speak for itself,” he added.

Recalling the challenges Nepal faced during the promulgation of its Constitution, Oli urged unity across generations. “All generations of Nepalis must unite, to confront the assault on our sovereignty and to defend our Constitution,” he said.