Nepal, May 5 -- It is entirely possible that when peaceful protestors turned violent, breached the police barricade, and began to storm the Parliament building on September 8, 2025, a few security personnel on guard panicked. The subsequent indiscriminate firing, resulting in the tragic death of 19 youngsters, may well have been the opening act of a Chartreuse Revolt that was spontaneous rather than premeditated.

However, the loot, arson, lynching and mayhem on the following day were far too well-coordinated and clinically executed to be dismissed as a mere paroxysm of public rage. Almost five dozen people, including at least three police officers, were killed, some burnt alive. The primary seats of the executive, the legislature and the...