Kathmandu, May 29 -- On October 22, 2025, an email arrived in the inbox of Prem Kumar Rai, chief commissioner of Nepal's anti-corruption body, with a subject line that was not subtle. "We are giving you 10 days for your last wish," it read. Ten officials at the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority would be assassinated unless they resigned within the deadline. The message was signed: "Prakash Pathak, chairman, EGN."

Weeks later, a second message came, calling on escaped prisoners from the Gen Z protests, underground networks and hidden weapons holders to contact EGN for funding and coordination.

EGN, it turned out, stood for "Extremist Group Nepal" - a name its founder had chosen, investigators say, because an earlier ...