As many as sixteen prisoners who fled the regional Bhimphedi Prison during Gen Z protests returned voluntarily on Monday, raising the total number of escapees who have returned to 32.

During the protests, 223 inmates who had escaped from various prisons and juvenile correction centres in Hetauda were recaptured. Of the 440 prisoners who fled Bhimphedi Prison on the night of September 9, when inmates broke through the walls of ‘A’ and ‘B’ blocks, 163 have been apprehended by Nepal Police, the Nepali Army, and the Armed Police Force, while 277 remain at large.

“Of those who escaped, 163 have been recaptured, and 277 remain at large,” said Shyamu Aryal, Deputy Superintendent of Police and spokesperson of the District Police Office, Makawanpur. Prison authorities have been contacting escapees, requesting their return. “During this period, 32 inmates have returned voluntarily. On Monday alone, 16 returned,” said Suwas Paudel, chief of Bhimfedi prison.

Separately, 72 juveniles escaped from the juvenile correction centre in Thana Bharayang, Hetauda Sub-metropolitan City–11, on Wednesday morning. Police have apprehended 53, while 19 remain missing.

Police also reported that 60 escapees from central and other prisons in Kathmandu, Nakhu, Bharatpur, Kaski, and Tanahun have been recaptured within Makawanpur and returned to Bhimfedi prison.

Seven escapees captured in Jhapa

Meanwhile, seven prisoners who fled during the protests were captured in Jhapa. On September 9, five men and two women escaped from Sundhara Central Prison in Kathmandu, Jhumka Prison in Sunsari, and Kaski Prison. All were recaptured, said Pravin Shrestha, information officer at the District Police Office.

Among those recaptured were 28-year-old Ruksar Khatun and 28-year-old Eksara Khatun from Gauradaha Municipality–5, who escaped Sundhara Prison and returned voluntarily after government notices. Dinesh Soren, 33, from Kanakai Municipality–6, involved in a criminal case, was arrested at home.

One escapee, 23-year-old Nawal Kishor, crossed into India and was detained by Indian police at Kishangunj before being handed over to Kechana police. From Sunsari’s Jhumka Prison, 45-year-old Bal Bahadur Rai, accused of sexual assault, was handed over by his family. Two other escapees from Sundhara Prison have also been recaptured.