Tightened Security After Prisoners Began to Escape

Surkhet, 11 Sep: Taking advantage of the Gen Z group’s agitation, prisoners have escaped from two districts of Karnali Province, Rukum Paschim and Jumla. The security situation has become weak after prisoners started escaping from prisons. 36 people have escaped from Jumla and 88 from Rukum Paschim. However, it is said that some have been taken into police custody while the search for others is ongoing. Apart from these, the army and police have provided tight security to prevent any possible incidents at the prison in the provincial capital Surkhet and Jajarkot prisons. 

According to Surkhet news reporter, the Surkhet prison, which houses the largest number of prisoners in Karnali, had been under strict security since last Monday, the day the Gen Z movement began. Initially, the prison administration and the police team deployed for security had been providing security to the prison without sleeping all night, but on Tuesday night, the Nepali Army came for security. Surkhet prison information officer Bhuwan Gautam said that since the movement began, Surkhet prison has been under constant surveillance. 

There are currently 413 prisoners in Surkhet Prison. Of which 368 are men, 45 are women and three are dependent children. Information Officer Gautam informed that the prisoners have been consulted and their attention has been diverted, and said that there have been no untoward incidents in Surkhet Prison like in other districts. According to him, 45 security personnel have provided security to Surkhet Prison. 

Thirty-six prisoners escaped

According to the Sinja news reporter of Jumla , 36 prisoners have escaped from the Jumla District Jail. Police have stated that the prisoners escaped around 11 pm on Tuesday using weapons and firewood found inside the jail. 

Out of the 41 prisoners who escaped, five have been taken into custody by the police, while the other 36 are absconding, said DSP Rabin Babu Regmi, Chief of the District Police Office, Jumla. The prisoners escaped at night, taking advantage of the Gen Z movement. Out of the 97 prisoners, five were female and 92 were male prisoners. Police and security personnel have intensified searches from the main checkpoints to the villages. 

The District Administration Office has said that it will launch an investigation into the weaknesses in the prison, considering this a serious security challenge. Police have said that the search for the escaped prisoner is currently underway at full speed. 

43 prisoners under control

According to the Musikot news reporter of Rukum Paschim , prisoners have escaped from the prison office in Rukum Paschim. 88 prisoners have escaped from the prison. 

According to the Prison Office, 158 prisoners were in the prison as of Tuesday morning, but they escaped in the evening. The District Police Office, Rukum Paschim, has said that 43 of the escapees were taken into custody and returned to the prison by Wednesday afternoon. The office’s information officer, Police Inspector Hari Prasad Pun, said that a search is underway for the remaining 45 prisoners. Nepal Police and Armed Police were mobilized as soon as they received information about the escape from the prison. The Prison Office has stated that there are 150 men, seven women and a minor in the prison, which has a capacity of 25. 

Army guards prison

According to the Kalikot news reporter, the security challenge in the district has increased after the Gen Z movement spread across the country and prisoners started escaping from the prison. The Nepali Army has been deployed for prison security after the prisoners of the Kalikot District Jail started shouting slogans saying that they should also be allowed to go out. It is said that if the Nepali Army had arrived in Kalikot 15 minutes late, the prisoners could have escaped, but they failed to escape because the army arrived on time. Chief District Officer Gokarna Raj Suyal said that the army has been deployed for prison security. He said that the situation is not that complicated now, and that the security in the district has not deteriorated that much as the agitating youth also carried out peaceful protests and did not resort to sabotage to escape the prisoners. 

Attempt to escape by shouting slogans 

Similarly, according to Khalanga news reporter of Jajarkot , prisoners of Jajarkot Prison tried to escape on Tuesday by shouting slogans in the Gen Z movement. After the prisoners shouted slogans to escape, the Nepali Army immediately reached the prison and normalcy returned. Officials have said that although there was tension in the afternoon after providing security at the district headquarters and local government offices, the situation is now returning to normal.