Former prime minister KP Sharma Oli has given a written statement to the inquiry commission formed to investigate the use of force and violent incidents during the Gen Z uprising on September 8–9. Oli was prime minister at the time.

Commission spokesperson Bigyan Raj Sharma said the inquiry team that went to deliver the notice at Oli’s residence in Gundu, Bhaktapur returned with his written statement.

“The commission’s team had gone to deliver the letter requesting his presence. Immediately after receiving it, he provided his statement in written form,” a commission member said.

Oli had earlier claimed that he would not respond to the inquiry panel accusing the commission chair Gauri Bahadur Karki of being biased against him.

The commission had completed the interrogation of former home minister Ramesh Lekhak last Wednesday.

The government formed the three-member inquiry commission, led by former judge Gauri Bahadur Karki, to probe allegations of use of excessive force, rights violations and political mismanagement during the youth-led Gen Z uprising. A total of 77 people lost their lives during the Gen Z protests. Of them 19 were killed on the first day of the protests.

The uprising, driven by frustration over corruption, impunity and entrenched patronage networks, ultimately toppled the government led by Oli. He fled the prime minister’s official residence Baluwatar and resigned on September 9. An interim administration under Sushila Karki took office on September 12.

The commission, initially given a three-month mandate and recently extended by one month, has already questioned administrative and security officials who held key responsibilities during the unrest.