Imagine a scene straight out of a movie: a prisoner, newly free from a massive jailbreak, walks right back to the lockup. That’s what happened recently, catching even the toughest guards off guard. One man, after just hours of freedom, decided to surrender, saying he feared a far worse fate if he stayed on the run.
This surprising turn came after a huge prison chaos. Thousands of inmates, over 15,000 in total, burst out of jails across the country on a Tuesday in September. Riots and fires had swept through these facilities, leaving them in disarray. This chaos wasn’t isolated; it came amidst widespread protests from young people, often called Gen Z. They were deeply unhappy about government corruption and a recent ban on social media, leading to the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli.
The man who turned himself in was one of 692 prisoners who escaped from a facility in Dhankadi, a city located in the western province of Kailali. Early the very next morning, his family brought him to the prison gates. He explained to them that while he might be free now, police would likely add new charges for the escape if they caught him later. This could mean a much longer sentence than his original one.
His family, holding onto a sliver of hope, even told local reporters they believed a new government might show mercy. They thought he might get a pardon if officials saw his sincere change of heart. When he arrived back at the prison, the inside guards were there, but the main outside gate was locked. He had to call out loudly until someone finally opened it, letting him back into custody.
Reports from local and international news outlets paint a clear picture of the vast scale of the escapes. Kathmandu Central Jail alone saw 3,300 inmates bolt. Nakkhu Prison in Lalitpur lost 1,400 people, and Dillibazar Prison, another 1,100. Smaller facilities also felt the impact, with Banke District Prison losing 436 and the Banke Juvenile Detention Center seeing 122 young people escape.
Since the mass breakout, the national army has been working hard to find the missing prisoners. So far, they’ve managed to bring back only about 200 escapees. Tragically, the violence that erupted during the clashes inside the prisons led to the deaths of at least eight inmates.
This whole event is considered one of the biggest challenges the country has faced in decades. Soldiers and police are still actively looking for the thousands who remain free. At the same time, they are trying their best to maintain peace and order across the entire nation.
Jailbreak Numbers:
- Kathmandu Central Jail: 3,300 people
- Nakkhu Prison in Lalitpur: 1,400 people
- Dillibazar Prison: 1,100 people
- Banke District Prison: 436 people
- Banke Juvenile Detention Center: 122 people
Source: NDTV.com