221 escape from Juvenile Detention Center in Bhaktapur

KATHMANDU, Aug 21: 221 minor detainees have escaped from a Juvenile Detention Center in Bhaktapur. They escaped during the turmoil when a minor detainee died at the Rehabilitation Center yesterday.

Among the 296 detainees, 42 girls and 33 boys are in police custody, while 12 are undergoing treatment in the hospital. Others who are absconding are being searched, informed the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) of the District Police Range Bhaktapur, Basanta Pathak.

A 'minor detainee' died suspiciously at the Juvenile Detention Center in Sano Thimi, Bhaktapur. The protest intensified after the death of 18-year-old Kamal Basnet, a resident of Manthali Municipality in Ramechhap district, on Sunday morning.

The staff of the rehabilitation centre took him to the Civil Community Hospital saying that he was suffering from health problems, but his family members claimed that he died before reaching the hospital. According to the order of the court, Basnet was in the Juvenile Detention Center since 2077 BS.

After the detainees escaped with vandalism, a large number of police have been mobilized in the area. It has been informed that more Police forces under the leadership of two Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of the Valley Police Office have been mobilized in the area. More forces under the leadership of SSPs Dinesh Raj Mainali and Om Rana have been sent to the area, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Lalmani Acharya informed Ratopati.