Nepal arrests 400-plus over Sept protests

The arrested are accused of crimes ranging from murder to vandalism during a mass uprising in September

KATHMANDU:

Nepal's police have arrested 423 people accused of crimes ranging from murder to vandalism during a deadly mass uprising in September that toppled the government, according to police data released on Monday.

Suspects also face charges that include the illegal possession and use of weapons, as well as theft and indecent behaviour, the data showed.

"A team is looking into the incidences and we are working to collect information," Nepal police spokesman Abi Narayan Kafle said.

Youth-led protests that rallied under the loose umbrella title of "Gen Z", referring to those aged under 28, erupted on September 8 after a government ban on social media.

The movement was more broadly fuelled by economic hardship and growing anger over corruption.