Oli leaves Nepal Army's barracks, moves to private house

Kathmandu, Sep 18 (PTI) Deposed prime minister K P Sharma Oli has moved from the army barracks to a private place, after spending nine days under the Nepalese Army security.

Oli had flown to the army barracks, probably in Shivapuri forest area in the North of Kathmandu, as soon as the Gen Z protest turned violent, even as he quit the post on September 9.  After spending nine days under Nepal Army’s security, the chairman of Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) (CPN-UML) had moved to a private place, Nepal Army sources confirmed.  However, the place where he will stay from now onward has not been made public. According to media reports, Oli has moved to a private house in the Gundu area of Bhaktapur district, 15 km east of Kathmandu.

The Gen Z protesters had burnt his house at Balkot in Bhaktapur to ashes during the second day of the protest on September 9. Oli was at the official residence of the Nepal PM when the Gen Z protesters partially burnt the Prime Minister’s Office at Balkot on September 9.

However, Oli safely escaped with the help of the Nepal Army, who sent a helicopter to rescue him.

Besides former Prime Minister Oli, ex-PMs Pushpakamal Dahal, Prachanda, Sher Bahadur Deuba, Jhalanath Khanal and Madhav Kumar Nepal and some other senior political leaders had also stayed in the army protection for a few days.  However, all other leaders except Nepali Congress president Deuba and his spouse, former Foreign Minister Arazu Rana Deuba, who were living in army security, have left the security.

Sher Bahadur and Arzju, who sustained injuries during the attack by protesters, are currently undergoing treatment in a hospital with army security.

CPN-UML, led by Oli, is organising a separate programme on the Constitution Day on September 19 at Chyasal in Lalitpur district, the central office of the party. However, it is not certain whether Oli will also attend the programme on Friday.  Nepal is observing Ashoj 3 according to the Bikram Era calendar as the Constitution Day, which falls on September 19 this year.

Nepal promulgated its constitution, drafted through the Constituent Assembly ten years ago, on September 20, 2015.

The Nepal government is organising a grand programme on September 19 in the capital city to celebrate the Constitution Day, and a public holiday has been announced for the occasion.

President Ramchandra Paudel, Prime Minister Sushila Karki, Nepal Army chief, ministers and other dignitaries will attend the programme. PTI SBP RD RD RD