The cabinet led by Sushila Karki appears hesitant to release the report submitted by the inquiry panel headed by Gauri Bahadur Karki, which was formed to investigate the violent protests of September 8–9. However, portions of the report have been leaked by several media outlets, including Janaastha Weekly.
According to the leaked conclusion cited by Janaastha, security agencies that were relatively active on September 8 became ineffective the following day, a lapse believed to have significantly increased the scale of damage.
The commission has raised serious concerns about the role of the Nepal Army, stating that despite having clear intelligence about the sensitivity and escalation of the situation, it was not effectively deployed when requested by the district administration. The report also recommends action against senior army officials responsible for safeguarding vital installations.
Responding to the findings, Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel said security agencies had anticipated that the protests could intensify. However, due to the absence of a formal meeting of the National Security Council, no concrete strategic decisions could be made in time.
The commission found that highly flammable materials were used in coordinated attacks on key state institutions, including Singha Durbar, the Federal Parliament building, the Supreme Court, and the Presidential Palace. Attackers deliberately targeted locations housing critical documents.
Field investigations revealed a consistent pattern in the attacks: CCTV systems were destroyed first, followed by the disabling of water tanks, destruction of data centers, and attacks on computer rooms. Documents were then burned, valuables looted, and finally, buildings were set ablaze using gas cylinders.
In several high-profile locations, including Singha Durbar and the Supreme Court, attackers used chemicals and petrol bombs (Molotov cocktails), indicating a planned and systematic approach.
The report also reveals that President Ram Chandra Paudel was evacuated from Shital Niwas by the Nepal Army shortly after accepting the resignation of then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
Furthermore, the commission has recommended up to 10 years of punishment against KP Sharma Oli, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, and Police Chief Chandrakuber Khapung, accusing them of negligence that led to the deaths of adolescents during the unrest.
The panel has also called for further investigation into the arson and looting of historical heritage sites, as well as government, private, and commercial properties on September 9, citing insufficient evidence to reach definitive conclusions.
