Nepal: Over 15,000 jail inmates escape amid violent protests

Over 15,000 inmates have escaped from more than 25 prisons across Nepal since Tuesday amid widespread violent protests against corruption and the government in the country, The Kathmandu Post reported.

The jailbreaks began after protesters stormed several prison facilities, setting administrative buildings ablaze and forcing open prison gates. Reports also emerged of inmates attempting to take over facilities and escape, leading to clashes with security personnel, amid the protests.

In Banke district, five juvenile inmates died and four were injured in clashes with security personnel at the Naubasta Correctional Home in the Naubasta Regional Jail, The Rising Nepal reported.

The five minors were killed when the police opened fire during the clashes that broke out when inmates tried to take over the weapons of the security personnel in the correctional home.

On Wednesday, The Kathmandu Post quoted preliminary reports as saying that over 15,000 inmates had fled from more than 25 prisons, with only a fraction returning voluntarily or being rearrested.

The Department of Prison Management, however, stated that it was still compiling final figures from all provinces.

Director General Lila Prasad Sharma told The Kathmandu Post that the Nepali Army, the Armed Police Force and the Nepal Police had been deployed nationwide to re-arrest escapees and restore order.

“We are mobilising all available resources to re-arrest them as quickly as possible,” Sharma added.

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