Nepal Faces Historic Jailbreak
Kathmandu: In an unprecedented security breakdown, over 13,500 prisoners escaped from jails across Nepal as violent protests engulfed the nation. The turmoil erupted after the government’s abrupt ban on 26 unregistered social media platforms, igniting massive demonstrations led by Generation Z activists demanding digital freedom and political reform.
According to Nepal Police, around 13,572 inmates—including nearly 560 held in police custody—escaped from prisons nationwide. The most significant breach occurred at Central Jail in Sundhara, Kathmandu, where approximately 3,300 prisoners broke free, leaving only about 500 inmates behind. Additionally, 149 out of 585 prisoners from another facility and 76 of 176 detainees from a juvenile home also managed to flee during the chaos.
Five juvenile inmates died in a clash
Protesters escalated their campaign by storming government buildings, looting the mansion of billionaire Upendra Mahato, and engaging in violent clashes with security forces.
The crisis has so far resulted in at least 27 deaths and over 630 injuries. The Nepalese Army has been deployed, and a curfew remains enforced across the capital as authorities scramble to restore order.
#UPDATE Nepali police said on Wednesday that more than 13,500 prisoners broke out of jails across the country during anti-government protests this week which ousted the prime minister and left parliament ablaze ➡️ https://t.co/IWMIUMks6j pic.twitter.com/ruQ9yHtzXO
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) September 10, 2025
The crisis has also raised cross-border security concerns. Several escapees reportedly have links to criminal networks near the Indo-Nepal border, especially in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. In response, Indian authorities have stepped up border security, deploying additional forces to prevent fugitives from entering India.
Although the government lifted the social media ban, protests persist, with demonstrators continuing to call for an interim administration led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki and demanding accountability from political leaders.
This massive jailbreak exposes deep flaws in Nepal’s prison and law enforcement systems, while the political unrest shows no signs of abating, leaving the country in a precarious situation.
