Now or never

Why aren’t second-rung leaders of big parties uniting to forestall their political leaders' comeback?

Even according to the own records of Nepal Police, it fired over 2,600 live ammunition during the two days of the Gen Z protests earlier this month. Nearly as many rubber bullets were fired. In the course of the protests, 75 people died and thousands were injured. Many of the youngsters who died on the first day were shot in their head and chest. In order to prevent the likely perpetrators of such a dastardly act from escaping the country, the judicial commission investigating the violent suppression of the protests has recommended freezing the passports of five top ex-state officials, including the erstwhile prime minister KP Sharma Oli. Those recommended for action are Ramesh Lekhak, the home minister in the Oli Cabinet, then home secretary Gokarna Mani Duwadi, then National Investigation Department chief Hutaraj Thapa, and then Kathmandu chief district officer Chhabi Rijal.