Amidst the violent Gen-Z protests on September 8th and 9th, approximately 3,723 escapees have been re-arrested by Nepalese authorities. Deputy Inspector General Binod Ghimire of the Nepal Police confirmed this on Sunday, reporting their return to various prisons. Alarmingly, 10,320 inmates remain unaccounted for, prompting public vigilance appeals.
DIG Binod Ghimire noted that some prisoners voluntarily returned, while Indian authorities assisted in apprehending those fleeing towards India. The SSB (Armed Border Force) stationed at the Nepal-India frontier has detained over 75 fugitives, primarily near Bihar and Uttar Pradesh borders. Many face severe charges like organized crime, extortion, and murder in India.
Social Media Ban Ignites Unrest
This situation marks one of Nepal's most significant internal security challenges, igniting on September 4, 2025. The government banned 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, Reddit, Signal, and Snapchat, citing national security as the companies hadn't registered under new government regulations. Generation Z interpreted this as an assault on free expression, mobilizing nationwide demonstrations.
The protests swiftly expanded into an anti-corruption, nepotism, and governance movement. On September 8, police shootings in Kathmandu led to 19 protester deaths, intensifying hostilities. By September 9, violence peaked with demonstrators torching government landmarks, including Singha Durbar, the Supreme Court, the Nepali Congress headquarters, launching attacks at former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's residence, and targeting the Federal Parliament Assembly. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned on September 10, subsequent to which the army implemented a national curfew with 'shoot-at-sight' orders.
Mass Prison Break: Over 13,000 Escapees
Protesters attacked numerous prisons, facilitating large-scale escapes. Reports suggest that between September 9th and 10th, 13,000 to 15,000 prisoners fled across the country's 77 districts.
Nakkhu Prison (Lalitpur):
Former Deputy Prime Minister Rabindra Lamichhane was released due to security threats, post which over 1,400 prisoners escaped as fires engulfed the facility.
Sundhara Central Jail (Kathmandu):
3,300 prisoners fled.
Banke District Jail:
436 inmates escaped, while 122 absconded from the juvenile correctional facility, resulting in 5 casualties during clashes with security forces.
Kaski Prison:
773 prisoners fled amidst fire outbreaks.
Jumla Jail:
36 inmates assaulted the warden before breaching the main gate.
Kailali Jail:
692 prisoners escaped, although one returned, fearing harsher penalties under the new government.
In Dhading district, two prisoners were killed and seven injured as the army thwarted the escape attempts. At Kathmandu's central jail, escape bids were successfully contained. Fleeing inmates include those convicted of terrorism, organized crime, corruption, and murder, with some on India's wanted lists.
51 Fatalities and Over 1,300 Injured
The violent protests in Nepal claimed 51 lives, including 21 protesters, while injuring over 1,300. Arson led to the destruction of the Attorney General's office and 17 lower courts.
Sushila Karki: Nepal's Interim PM
Sushila Karki, Nepal's former Chief Justice, was appointed interim Prime Minister on September 12. She's Nepal's first female PM, overseeing a gradual return to normalcy, with curfews lifted from the Kathmandu Valley and other regions.
