Kathmandu, Sep 10 (PTI) At least five juvenile inmates lost their lives during clashes with security personnel in a western Nepal jail amidst a wave of anti-government demonstrations that have resulted in over 7,000 prisoners escaping from various jails nationwide. The unrest was spurred by the resignation of Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli on Tuesday, leading to a serious law and order situation that prompted the Nepal Army to enforce nationwide restrictive orders and a curfew on Wednesday.
Inmates exploited the turmoil to flee, leading to violent clashes in several prisons. The Rising Nepal newspaper reported that five juvenile inmates were killed, and four others were seriously injured, when security forces opened fire to thwart an attempt by inmates to seize weapons at the Naubasta Correctional Home in Banke.
Authorities confirmed that during the incident, 149 of the 585 inmates from the prison and 76 of the 176 detainees from the juvenile home managed to escape. MyRepublica newspaper indicated that approximately 7,000 inmates fled from various prisons across the country.
According to Home Ministry sources, escapes were reported in several facilities, including Dillibazar Jail (1,100), Chitwan (700), Nakkhu (1,200), Jhumpka in Sunsari (1,575), Kanchanpur (450), Kailali (612), Jaleshwar (576), Kaski (773), Dang (124), Jumla (36), Solukhumbu (86), Gaur (260), and Bajhang (65).
The mass prison breakouts have instilled fear among the public, as many convicts serving sentences for various offenses are now at large. Victims of these crimes have reportedly fled their homes, fearing retaliation.
Furthermore, MyRepublica reported that all 471 inmates, including 43 women, escaped from the district jail in Sindhuligadhi, Sindhuli in southern Nepal’s Bagmati province. The inmates ignited fires within the facility and breached the main gate to escape. Superintendent of Police Laldhwaj Subedi confirmed the mass breakout.
The Kathmandu Post detailed that over 500 inmates fled from the Nawalparasi West District Prison after setting fires and staging protests demanding their release. Despite security efforts, most inmates managed to escape.
In Kathmandu, a local youth captured an inmate attempting to escape from Dillibazar Jail and handed him over to the Nepali Army. Meanwhile, several inmates escaped from Rajbiraj prison in Saptari after setting a blaze within the facility. Despite the firing of tear gas by security personnel, some inmates escaped.
In Parsa, inmates made an escape attempt from Birgunj prison by creating a large hole in the southern wall. Prison chief Khemraj Bhusal said the situation was controlled after prolonged efforts. A video circulated on social media showed an inmate breaking through a windowpane, but locals captured and returned him to security forces.
In Chandanath Municipality-6, Jumla, 36 prisoners escaped at 12:02 am on Wednesday after reportedly assaulting the jail warden and breaching the main gate. DSP Rabin Babu Regmi, police chief in Jumla, stated that the search for the escapees is ongoing, with 15 soldiers deployed to secure the jail. The facility held 98 inmates, with 62 remaining in custody.
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