During the catastrophic earthquake of April 25, two hundred and 16 inmates had fled the prison. According to the jail administration, twenty five of the prisoners have already come in contact with the jail authority, with seven of them now lodged in different prisons.
Jailer Om Prasad Subedi informed that 184 inmates are still at large."We have issued a notice asking them to come in contact within a week. We will not press charges against them if they contact us soon," he said.
He informed that those who have escaped from the jail will be punished if they fail to return within the given time frame. The jail administration has informed that they can contact any of the police units, local administration offices or prisons across the country.
After the newly constructed Sindhupalchowk jail collapsed, the inmates were kept the open ground inside the jail compound. But after the compound wall gave way, it became easier for them to slip away from the prison.
Urban Building Development Division Office, Kavre, had overseen the construction of the jail last year at the cost of Rs. 50 million. Questions were raised about the problems in the structure of the jail even at the time it was being constructed.
Two Pakistani inmates, who ran to save their lives during the quake, have contacted the jail administration. The duo, arrested on the charge of possessing fake currency, has now been shifted to the central jail. One Indian prisoner was arrested from the border as he tried to enter India. Four other prisoners came in contact with Palpa, Kailali, Bardiya and Bhimphedi jails.
Apart from these inmates, 25 others have made telephone contact with the authorities.
"We weren't fleeing the prison but trying to save our lives. We have no problems in surrendering ourselves before the authority," said Subedi quoting the inmates.
The jail, which has the capacity to accommodate 60 prisoners, had 216 inmates before the quake.
The jail administration informed that those inmates who came in contact have e been shifted to other jails.
Most of the inmates who ran away from the jail were serving terms or accused of murder charges while others were arrested for rape or being involved in human trafficking, illegal drugs, cow slaughter and illegal trading in gold.
Related story
Kavre jail prisoners demand transfer of their 'leaders'
