Nepal Police has taken 384 suspects into custody so far for their alleged involvement in criminal activities during the Gen Z protests of September 8 and 9.

According to the police, a total of 153 cases have been registered in connection with the violence. Since multiple individuals were involved in some of these cases, the number of people arrested exceeds the number of cases filed, they say.

Investigations have yet to be carried out to determine whether those arrested have any political affiliations. Besides, the police are investigating whether any of the detainees escaped from prison on September 9.

According to Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal, at least 14,549 prisoners had escaped from several jails during the Gen Z protest on that day. As many as 9,521 have returned to their respective jails while 5,105 are still at large.

Police data updated on November 6 show the highest number of arrests were made in Kathmandu for alleged involvement in criminal activities during the protests.

In the total 77 cases registered, 177 individuals were arrested from the Kathmandu district on five various charges. Fifty of the cases were related to criminal rioting, in which 117 people were taken into custody. Similarly, 30 individuals were arrested in connection with 11 cases related to the possession and use of weapons. Three complaints of theft have been registered under which six people were arrested.

Seven cases have been registered on charges of indecent behaviour, leading to the arrest of 12 individuals, while six cases related to homicide have also been filed, with 12 people arrested in the connection.

Similarly, in Lalitpur, 13 cases were registered under five different charges in connection with the protests, leading to the arrest of 26 individuals. In Bhaktapur, six cases were registered under four categories of offences, resulting in the arrest of 20 people.

Altogether, 96 cases have been registered under 14 different charges within the Kathmandu valley alone, with a total of 223 individuals taken into custody.

After the Valley, the highest number of arrests were made in Kavre.

A total of five cases were registered on three different charges in the district, leading to the arrest of 23 individuals. In Chitwan, eight cases were registered under four different charges and 22 people were arrested.

One case each related to the violation of Prison Act 2022 has been registered in Parbat and Myagdi districts.

In connection with these cases, 14 individuals have been arrested from Parbat and 7 from Myagdi.

The data paints a picture of widespread but concentrated unrest, with Kathmandu Valley the focal point of the Gen Z-called protests. Most offences as per the preliminary data appear to be related to collective public disorder, said a police officer.

Former deputy inspector general (DIG) of Nepal Police Hemanta Malla says that the real test for the government now lies in conducting transparent investigation, differentiating protesters and criminals, and carrying out accountable prosecution. These factors will determine whether this episode strengthens public trust in institutions or deepens the perception of political suppression, he said.

Malla stresses that there should be no confusion in distinguishing the demonstrations of September 8 from the incidents of September 9, the former being a protest and the latter involving criminal activities.

The government must investigate the criminal acts that took place on September 9 and take action against those responsible so that such incidents are not repeated in future movements, Malla suggests.

Police say that most of those held for investigation are linked to the incidents of September 9, and the nature of the cases filed against them also indicates that criminal activities were more widespread that day. Therefore, the number of arrests could increase in the coming days.

However, the representatives of the Gen Z movement have accused the government of targeting protesters instead of taking action against the government that incited the protests and the political leaders who, for years, perpetuated misgovernance in the country.

Monica Niraula, a representative of the Gen Z Alliance, has said that those involved in the September 8 events cannot be punished until the commission led by former Special Court chair Gauri Bahadur Karki submits its inquiry report.

The Sushila Karki government on September 21 formed the judicial commission to look into the excessive use of force by security agencies and other violent incidents during the uprising. The commission has three months to study and prepare the report.

Niraula accused the police of provoking the violence under instruction from the government of the day.

However, she noted that in the September 9 incidents, attacks were also carried out on private properties, welcoming the police’s efforts to bring them to book.

“However, the police should not take action against protesters on charges of other activities such as indecent behaviour committed in the course of the movement,” Niraula said.

Unhappy with the new government’s reluctance to take action against the top officials involved in using excessive force on September 9, Gen Z representatives have called for the resignation of Home Minister Aryal.

They have accused the government of targeting Gen Z protesters for legal action while sparing then-prime minister KP Sharma Oli, leaders of major political parties, and other officials responsible for provoking protesters through excessive use of force.