250 Prisoners Still at Large After Jailbreak

Janakpurdham. 250 prisoners are still absconding among those who escaped from Jaleshwor Jail in Mahottari during the agitation. Ashok Kumar Kshetri, chief of Jaleshwor Jail, said that 326 out of 576 prisoners who broke the jail and escaped during the agitation have returned so far. The prisoners had escaped by breaking the Jaleshwor Jail located in Jaleshwor Municipality-2, Mahottari, on August 24 during the nationwide agitation held on August 23 and 24. Among those who escaped were 40 Indian citizens. The jail administration had appealed to all absconding prisoners to return through the media on August 25. Since then, prisoners have been reporting themselves at various times. According to Jail Chief Kshetri, a total of 326 people, including 316 Nepalis and 10 Indians, have returned so far, and the process of returning is still ongoing. "We had urged everyone to return from the beginning, and even now, some prisoners are coming and reporting themselves," said Kshetri. Action will be taken against the returning prisoners according to the Jail Act, 2079, and the prevailing laws of Nepal. Similarly, Kshetri clarified that action will be taken according to the law against individuals who hide, conceal, or provide shelter to absconding prisoners. Thirteen of the escaped prisoners were arrested by Indian police while trying to cross into India. The Indian police cooperated in returning them to Nepal and handing them over to the jail, while the remaining prisoners returned voluntarily. Jaleshwor Jail, considered one of the oldest jails in the country, was built in 1913 BS. Although some new buildings have been constructed, most of the structures are old. Despite the availability of about 6 bighas of land in Jaleshwor Municipality-2, the construction of new buildings has not progressed yet. The administration stated that it is facing difficulties in management due to operating the jail with old and dilapidated buildings. According to the jail administration, the jail, with a capacity to hold 200 people, currently has more than double that number of inmates. Prisoners from districts including Dhanusha and Mahottari are kept in this jail. The pressure is increasing due to the management of inmates brought from other districts. The administration also stated that there is a risk of flooding as the rainy season is about to begin. Jail Chief Kshetri said that while the management of drinking water and food is normal, there is a problem with the management of medicines. "The management of food and water is being done, but due to the large number of inmates, there is a problem with medicines," he said, "It is difficult to procure necessary medicines on time due to insufficient budget." He said that the lack of timely medicine causes further problems for sick inmates, and the risk of infection spreading due to old buildings and overcrowding is also increasing. The jail administration says that management will be much easier if new buildings are constructed. Chief Kshetri said that with adequate space and modern structures, it will be easier to operate libraries, skill-based training, sports, and other reformative programs for the inmates. A person who was recently released after serving time in jail also said that the conditions inside the jail need to be improved. He complained that although the general management inside the jail is okay, the inmates have to live a difficult life. "We have to sit in the same place all day, there is no good arrangement for entertainment, sports, or a library," he said, "If there were places to learn skills and an environment to work, it would be easier for the inmates to earn a living in the future." He emphasized that prisons should be developed as centers of reform, not just places of punishment, as many inmates suffer from loneliness and mental stress due to lack of opportunities. Meanwhile, Mahottari's Chief District Officer Indradev Yadav said that the search for absconding prisoners is ongoing. According to him, search operations are being carried out by mobilizing Nepal Police, Armed Police, and other security agencies. "Security personnel have been deployed to apprehend the absconding prisoners, and the search operation is continuously ongoing," he said. Jaleshwor Jail is currently facing serious challenges amidst old structures, limited resources, and increasing inmate pressure. Rakesh Chaudhary, a civil society leader from Jaleshwor-2, says that jail management will be easier only if new buildings are constructed and reformative programs are operated.