By Rabi Raj Thapa
The whole tragedy of September 8 and 9 is the combined byproduct of the government’s overbearing attitude and the security forces’ lack of planning and coordination, which created a security vacuum and lawlessness across Nepal within a few hours on September 9, 2026.
Nothing good comes out of a conspiratorial mindset. For example, the repetition of police abuse of force on March 28, 2025, boomeranged. The same partnership between PM KP Sharma Oli and Ramesh Lekhak backfired on them on September 8 and 9.
Whatever the case may be, it is totally biased and unjust to criticize the Justice Gauri Bahadur Karki Commission on an ad hoc basis. It is wrong to criticize the Karki Report simply because the new Home Minister, Sudan Gurung, used that report to arrest KP Oli and Ramesh Lekhak on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
However, it would be better to first read the lengthy report, then analyze and evaluate its fault lines before making allegations of prejudice against the committee members. Once the report was handed over, it became the government’s responsibility to act on it as it deemed appropriate. Nevertheless, it is not easy to manage so many “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”–type politicians, prime ministers, and ministers produced by poor governance and corruption.
Despite all good intentions, the young and energetic Home Minister, Sudan Gurung, needs patience to uphold the rule of law and ensure that police and investigative personnel follow suit. Otherwise, there will be no difference between him and his predecessors. He must hold fast to his words—“police operations should remain free from interference at any level and demonstrate results through action”—and apply them to himself as well as to all police oversight bodies.
One of the most sacred duties of a Home Minister—and even the executive Prime Minister—is to set clear objectives, scope, and jurisdiction for government security personnel. The minister must act as a protector, guide, and motivator for police personnel. It is also the duty and responsibility of oversight bodies (Home Ministry officials and above) to create and maintain a conducive and harmonious working relationship between oversight bodies and security actors, as well as among inter-agencies under the Home Ministry.
The job and responsibility of security personnel from both Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force is to act as they are ordered, trained, equipped, and motivated. The Prime Minister, Home Minister, Home Secretary, or any oversight body does not need to run side-by-side during operations. However, they must not shy away from taking responsibility when things go wrong, such as on March 28, 2025, or during the Gen Z debacle of September 8–9, 2025.
It would be better if the new Home Minister ensures and supports Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force in developing and practicing effective and workable Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and instructs them to develop proper and methodical Rules of Engagement (ROE) and apply them correctly during operations. He should also ensure that law enforcement personnel treat citizens lawfully and humanely.
There can be no doubt that some police officers committed serious blunders by shooting at unarmed Gen Z students and youths on September 8. This clearly shows significant gaps and failures on the part of police commanders in command and control, the gradual and proportionate use of force, fire control, first aid, and care for the injured. This can only be addressed when the government provides adequate training opportunities and sufficient resources. It is encouraging that Justice Gauri Bahadur Karki and his commission members have rightly pointed out these shortcomings.
Therefore, police leaders must understand that they must give up “Singham”-style policing and law enforcement. At the same time, Home Minister Sudan Gurung’s “Gangnam Style” approach to running the Home Ministry and law enforcement may also fail and invite another investigative commission in the future.
Therefore, it would be unjust to undermine the substance and spirit of this comprehensive commission report with a biased perspective.
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