Lumbini Province Prisons See Mass Escape During Agitation

Butwal. Ram Prawesh Mallah of Pratapapur Rural Municipality-8, Nawalparasi, was convicted in a murder case and was in prison since 2080 BS. The court had sentenced him to imprisonment until Asar 23, 2105 BS.

However, while facing a long prison sentence, he escaped from prison amidst the chaos of the Jenji movement in Bhadra, 2082 BS.

Sher Bahadur Bohora of Bardaghat Municipality-8, Nawalparasi, was also serving a prison sentence for murder. Imprisoned since Falgun 24, 2079 BS, the court had sentenced Bohora to imprisonment until Falgun 24, 2104 BS. But he also escaped during the movement.

Ram Prasad Chaudhary, a resident of Ramgram Municipality, and Rambahadur Pave Tharu of Susta Rural Municipality-2 were also prisoners in murder cases. Having served sentences in prison for years, they too managed to escape during the Jenji movement.

The incident was not limited to Nawalparasi. Prisoners convicted of murder and human trafficking also escaped from Kapilvastu prison. Triveni Prasad Chaudhary had spent 6 years of his 20-year prison sentence in Kapilvastu prison. He escaped with 14 years of his sentence remaining.

In the same prison, prisoners serving life sentences such as Nasim Khan alias 'Badshah', Shakir Ali Pariyar, and Omprakash Yadav have not yet been apprehended.

According to data from the Province Police Office, Dang, a total of 1,569 inmates escaped from 6 prisons and juvenile correction homes in Lumbini Province during the Jenji movement. Of these, 395 have been re-arrested, and 602 have voluntarily surrendered. 42 have reported to other prisons. However, according to the latest report (as of Baishakh 21), 530 individuals remain on the wanted list.

According to the Province Police Office, Dang, most of the escapees are inmates convicted of serious criminal offenses. The escape of prisoners serving sentences for murder, human trafficking, and life imprisonment indicates a weakness in the security mechanism, according to experts.

• What is the situation in each prison?

The highest number of escapes occurred at the Provincial Prison in Nawalparasi. 546 inmates escaped from that prison. According to the latest police data, 272 have been re-arrested, and 7 have reported to other facilities. However, 175 are still unaccounted for.

Of the 430 who escaped from Kapilvastu prison, 189 have been re-arrested. The police stated that 114 are still at large there.

253 inmates escaped from Tulsipur prison in Dang. Only 68 of them could be brought back under control. While 21 reported to other facilities, 67 are still at large.

Out of 147 who escaped from Naubasta prison in Banke, 92 have not yet been apprehended. Similarly, out of 78 who escaped from Naubasta Juvenile Correction Home, 33 remain outside.

Likewise, out of 115 who escaped from Hirminia Juvenile Correction Home in Banke, 49 have not yet come into contact, according to the data.

• Suspected Indian Criminals Have Returned to India

It is suspected that Indian nationals among the inmates who escaped from various prisons during the Jenji movement have returned to India. Especially in Nawalparasi and Kapilvastu prisons in Lumbini Province, police have preliminarily concluded that escaped Indian inmates have fled towards India.

Kamalain Rouniyar, a resident of Maharajganj, India, was serving a sentence in Kapilvastu prison for human trafficking. Taking advantage of the prison break and the chaotic situation of the movement, he escaped.

According to police sources, Rouniyar is suspected to be hiding in India. Similarly, a large number of Indian nationals are among those who escaped from Nawalparasi prison, and it is estimated that they may have gone to India. According to Kiran Aryal, Deputy Subba of Nawalparasi Prison Administration, 38 Indian citizens are still at large.

23 Indian prisoners had escaped from Kapilvastu prison during the Jenji movement. Of these, 13 are still yet to be apprehended by the police.

According to the police, Indian nationals serving sentences for serious crimes including drugs, rape, and murder are still unaccounted for. It is estimated that they may have gone to India, taking advantage of the open border.

Sharda Prasad Chaudhary, SSP and spokesperson for the Lumbini Province Police Office, Dang, stated that escaped inmates may have gone to India due to the open border with India and the ease of hiding in large Indian cities. He said that coordination with Indian security agencies has been increased in the border areas.

He informed that some escaped individuals have been successfully re-arrested with the help of Indian police, and the search operation is still ongoing. 'Coordination with Indian police is continuous. Nepal Police has also intensified its search and arrest operations from its side,' he said.