KATHMANDU, Jan 9: With just 54 days left until the House of Representatives (HoR) election, authorities are on high alert over the potential threat posed by more than 4,500 escaped prisoners.
During the Gen Z movement on September 9, a staggering 14, 555 prisoners serving sentences for various crimes broke free from prisons across the country. Security experts fear that some of these escapees could be used to destabilize the electoral process.
Among those who fled, 4,512 remain unaccounted for. The Department of Prison Management (DoPM) reports that more than 500 of the fugitives are foreign nationals. Over 10,000 of the escaped prisoners from various prisons, correctional facilities, and detention centers have already been traced and returned.
Shashidhar Ghimire, Director General of the DoPM, said that security agencies are conducting extensive searches to bring all escapees back into custody. “The security agencies are actively searching for them. It is their responsibility to arrest the escaped prisoners. While criminals try to stay hidden, the police have successfully apprehended many,” he said.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dan Bahadur Karki has also issued nationwide directives to police chiefs to intensify searches for both escapees and looted weapons. These instructions were issued through a virtual meeting, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.
Kavre jail prisoners demand transfer of their 'leaders'
According to Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Abi Narayan Kafle, who is also the police spokesperson, the police have introduced a reward system for those who assist in capturing escaped prisoners and recovering looted weapons. “The IGP has announced incentives for anyone who finds looted weapons or apprehends fugitives,” Kafle said, adding that over 10,000 prisoners have already been recaptured. For the remaining fugitives, provincial police offices have assigned focal persons to manage search and apprehension operations.
On October 12, the DoPM released detailed profiles of the escapees and appealed to the public for assistance in locating them. The Ministry of Home Affairs has also formed “Escapee Prisoner Search and Arrest Task Forces” in all districts, coordinated by the Assistant Chief District Officers, with representation from security and other agencies. Since these district-level task forces direct police operations, it is ultimately the responsibility of law enforcement to carry out searches and arrests.
Director General Ghimire confirmed that more than 10,000 prisoners have been returned to custody, but the search continues for those still at large. “Operations are ongoing at both district and village levels. Task forces are tracing escapees and returning them to prison,” he said, highlighting the widespread coordination involved in this massive search effort.
Prisoners exploited the chaos of the Gen Z movement on September 9 to escape from 28 prisons and nine juvenile correctional homes, including Central Jail, Nakkhu Prison, and facilities in Banke, Rautahat, Sindhuli, Chitwan, Makwanpur, Kapilvastu, Kaski, Tanahun, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Nawalparasi, Sunsari, Dang, and Mahottari.
The upheaval during the movement claimed 76 lives, including three police officers and ten prisoners. More than 1,200 police weapons and nearly 100,000 rounds of ammunition were looted, and approximately 400 deadly weapons remain unaccounted for. An internal police report confirmed that looted weapons and escaped prisoners pose significant security risks, though many fugitives have yet to be apprehended.
Authorities say that the escapees, both Nepali and foreign nationals, face serious charges including rape, drug trafficking, gold smuggling, human trafficking, kidnapping and hostage-taking, robbery, murder (culpable homicide), theft, revenue evasion, and foreign currency smuggling. Police suspect that some of the escaped criminals may have already fled abroad, prompting authorities to seek Interpol’s assistance to capture the foreign escapees.
Despite these challenges, authorities insist that the upcoming election will not be disrupted. “Prisoners cannot interfere with the elections. The Nepal Police continue to search all possible hiding spots, and patrols have been deployed even to residential addresses. Special surveillance is in place.
There is no possibility of these fugitives affecting the election,” DIG Kafle said. “Even if they try to appear during the polls, they will be immediately arrested. Provincial police offices have designated focal persons to apprehend them, and all patrol units have instructions to arrest any escapees found. Regular communication is maintained with local representatives to ensure no gaps in monitoring.”
Suspect in 60 kg gold smuggling case still at large
High-profile fugitives include several Chinese nationals involved in a 60 kg gold smuggling case. During the prison break on September 9, prisoners took advantage of fires and chaos to escape. Among them was Dawa Chhiring, married to Amala Roka of Rolpa, who had been managing other individuals involved in gold smuggling in Nepal.
The Chinese nationals had been held in Nakkhu Prison, Lalitpur, and Jagannath Dewal (Central) Prison, Sundhara. Ten Chinese gold smugglers remain at large from these facilities. Another escapee, Chinese national Alex, also known as Yao Pucheng, had been arrested on August 18, 2023, but remains at large following the breakout. Police have confirmed that searches for all these high-risk fugitives are ongoing, leaving no stone unturned in efforts to ensure public safety.
