More than 3,742 inmates who escaped from prisons across Nepal during the Gen-Z movement in 2082 BS remain at large, with some having committed additional serious crimes. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), a special investigation unit of Nepal Police, has intensified its search operations for these escapees.
A total of 14,549 inmates fled from 28 prisons nationwide on Bhadra 24, 2082 BS, amidst widespread protests and vandalism. As of Ashoj 12, 2083 BS, 7,735 inmates, including 7,394 from prisons and 341 from juvenile homes, have returned or been recaptured. However, the Department of Prison Management (DPM) reported on Ashoj 17, 2083 BS (October 3, 2026), that 3,742 individuals are still at large. Earlier, on Sawan 29, 2083 BS, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dan Bahadur Karki stated that over 3,000 of 13,589 escapees were still unapprehended.
Escapees Commit New Crimes
Several escapees have been found to commit further heinous crimes after their flight. Khibahadur BK, who was serving a 25-year sentence for murder at Dang District Prison, escaped on Bhadra 24, 2082 BS. Less than a month later, on Ashoj 11, 2083 BS, he attacked an individual with a sharp weapon in Tulsipur.
Similarly, Akash Magar, a drug trafficking convict from Nakhkhu Prison, also escaped on Bhadra 24, 2082 BS. Approximately three weeks later, on Ashoj 13, 2083 BS, he fatally attacked Suraj Tamang from Makwanpur with a khukuri in Thamel, Kathmandu. Magar is now serving sentences for both drug trafficking and murder. Sant Bahadur Tamang, a rape convict who escaped from Nakhkhu Prison, murdered his wife at their home in Panauti, Kavre.
The CIB has arrested 37 escapees in the past year. Among those recently apprehended, police have noted that 100 foreign inmates, including drug traffickers and sharpshooters, were among those who escaped.
Official Response and Penalties
The Department of Prison Management has forwarded lists of the escapees to police and various other offices. Chomendra Neupane, Director of the DPM, stated that additional penalties may be recommended for inmates who did not return by the end of Ashoj 2082 BS. The DPM had previously offered a facility for inmates to return voluntarily by the end of Ashoj 2082 BS without facing additional punishment.
CIB Spokesperson and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Anupamshamsher Jabara confirmed that special operations are underway to locate the fugitives, with a priority on those involved in serious and repeat offenses. He added that police officers who successfully apprehend escapees will receive favorable performance evaluation scores. The DPM has also warned that individuals who harbor or conceal escaped criminals will be prosecuted under existing laws.
For those who fail to return, the Prison Act, 2079 BS, and other prevailing laws stipulate severe penalties, including additional jail time ranging from three to five years and fines up to Rs 500,000, depending on the nature of the violation.
Background of the Gen-Z Movement
The Gen-Z movement, which began on Bhadra 23, 2082 BS, was a series of nationwide protests and clashes against the government’s ban on social media platforms, as well as widespread corruption and nepotism. The unrest led to arson and vandalism in government offices and facilitated the mass prison breaks. During attempts to escape from prisons, 10 individuals died. Other sources indicate that 19 people died in clashes with security forces during the protests, with a total of 76 deaths attributed to the movement.
The movement significantly altered Nepal’s political landscape, leading to the formation of an interim government led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki. Subsequently, the Prison Regulations, 2083 BS, were issued on Ashar 32, 2083 BS.
What Remains Unknown
- The current apprehension status of Khibahadur BK, Akash Magar, and Sant Bahadur Tamang remains officially unconfirmed.
- Further details on the specific process and implementation of additional penalties for non-returning escapees are not yet available.
- Discrepancies across various sources mean the precise, updated number of currently at-large escapees is not definitively known.
- The exact number of fatalities during the Gen-Z movement also varies across reports.
- The current official position of SSP Anupamshamsher Jabara is not specified in the available information.
