Over 7,700 inmates who fled from various prisons across Nepal amidst recent Gen Z protests have now either returned voluntarily or been recaptured by security forces. This development was announced by authorities on Sunday, September 28, 2025.
According to officials from the Prison Management Department, a staggering total of 14,558 prisoners managed to escape detention centers nationwide during the height of the Gen Z protests on September 8 and 9.
The protests themselves were driven by widespread frustration over political instability and difficult economic conditions in Nepal.
Tragically, ten prisoners lost their lives during confrontations with security forces. Of those who initially escaped, 7,735 inmates have since been accounted for, with some choosing to return on their own accord, while many others were forcibly arrested.
Despite these recoveries, a significant number – 6,813 prisoners – remain at large, having absconded from various correctional facilities.
The government has initiated an extensive manhunt to apprehend these remaining escapees and bring them back into custody.