Kathmandu, Nepal, September 12 (HS): Nepal Police has issued a nationwide appeal calling on thousands of prisoners who fled during recent violent unrest to immediately surrender themselves to the nearest security authority. The appeal comes after a dramatic prison break earlier this week when mobs linked to the Gen Z protest movement torched and vandalized multiple detention facilities across the country.

According to The Rising Nepal, police headquarters on Thursday released a public notice urging all escaped convicts and detainees to establish contact with security agencies without delay. The statement warned that those who fail to comply will face additional legal consequences. However, officials clarified that individuals who voluntarily surrender will be provided leniency and spared from further punitive measures.

The unrest, which erupted on September 8 and 9, saw large-scale rioting, arson, and mob violence targeting prisons and police offices nationwide. During the chaos, an estimated 7,000 prisoners and detainees managed to break free, making it the largest mass jailbreak in Nepal’s history. Security forces have since been conducting operations to track down the escapees, amid concerns over rising social unrest and law and order challenges.

Authorities have not yet confirmed how many fugitives have been recaptured, but security checks across provincial and district levels have been intensified. The government is under pressure to restore stability as international human rights organizations have raised concerns about prison security lapses and the wider implications of such a large-scale jailbreak.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar