Interim PM takes office in Nepal, killed protesters declared ‘martyrs’

Former chief justice Sushila Karki has assumed office as the prime minister of Nepal’s interim government. She announced that those killed in the ‘Gen-Z protest’ have been declared martyrs.

At the swearing-in ceremony held on Sunday (14 September), Sushila Karki also signed documents approving financial assistance of one million rupees for each bereaved family.

Earlier in the morning, before assuming her duties at Singha Durbar, the new prime minister paid homage at the Lainchour Martyrs’ Memorial.

According to NDTV, the death toll from the protests has risen to 72 — including 59 demonstrators, 10 prisoners, and three police officers. In addition to providing compensation to families of the deceased, the government has arranged free treatment for 134 injured protesters and 57 injured police officers. Ministries have been instructed to prepare detailed reports on the damage caused by the protests.

Following the fall of the Nepali Congress government amid the mass uprising, President Ram Chandra Paudel appointed outgoing chief justice Sushila Karki as interim prime minister. She took the oath of office at 9 p.m. local time on Friday (12 September) and announced that a new general election will be held on 5 March next year. Karki is the first woman to serve as prime minister in Nepal’s history.

The recent anti-government protests were fuelled by political corruption, economic mismanagement, and outrage over the extravagant lifestyles of politicians’ children. Anger had been spreading on social media, and when the government imposed restrictions on online platforms, the situation worsened. Protesters then took to the streets, and on 8 September stormed the parliament building, carrying out vandalism and arson. That day, security forces opened fire, killing 19 people. The death toll later rose to 72.

The movement has since become known as the ‘Gen-Z revolution’.