KATHMANDU: Nearly 5,700 inmates who fled from prisons and correctional homes across the country during the Gen Z protests on September 8 and 9 remain missing, officials say.
During the protests, 13,589 prisoners—including 964 juveniles—escaped from 28 prisons, while 14,553 inmates including 964 juveniles fled from nine juvenile correctional homes.
As of Monday, 8,851 individuals have returned: 8,510 regular prisoners and 341 juveniles, according to Chomedra Neupane, Director of the Prison Management Department. That leaves 5,697 still at large—5,079 regular inmates and 618 juveniles.
Earlier, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued an ultimatum demanding that escaped prisoners surrender by Monday. The government has launched a special campaign to recapture those who fled, citing a serious security threat. Under the effort, security personnel are actively apprehending escaped inmates and returning them to the relevant prisons.
A task force has also been established to locate, control, and arrest escapees, coordinated by Assistant Chief District Officers and involving security and other agencies.
Prisoners took advantage of the protests to escape from facilities in Jhumka, Solukhumbu, Saptari, Mahottari, Rautahat, Sindhuli, Nakkhu, Jagannathdeval, Dillibazaar, Makawanpur, Rasuwa, Chitwan, Tanahun, Kaski, Parbat, Myagdi, Kapilvastu, Tulsipur, Naubasta, Rukum West, Nawalparasi, Jumla, Bajhang, Kailali, Darchula, Baitadi, Dadeldhura, and Kanchanpur.
Meanwhile, 963 juvenile prisoners fled from juvenile correctional homes in Morang, Parsa, Bhaktapur, Makawanpur, Kaski, Rupandehi, Jayandu, Naubasta, and Doti.
Three prisoners were shot dead in Ramechhap and two in Dhading while trying to escape past security cordons. Five juveniles died in a clash at the Naubasta correctional home. Prison officials have urged escapees to return immediately, warning that legal action will be taken regardless of government notices.
There are currently 30,646 inmates serving sentences in 75 prisons across 72 districts. Districts without prisons include Dhanusha, Bara, Bhaktapur, Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East), and East Rukum.
Comment