Over 7,500 prisoners escape amid mass unrest in Nepal

At least 7,557 inmates have escaped from Nepalese prisons after mass unrest swept the country on September 10.

According to Republica, citing a source in the Ministry of Home Affairs of the South Asian nation, reports of prison breaks have come from 13 correctional facilities.

Law enforcement and military units have been deployed nationwide to capture the fugitives. Authorities have urged citizens to remain cautious and report any suspicious situations.

On September 8–9, Nepal experienced its worst civil unrest in decades, driven by widespread frustration among the youth, particularly Generation Z, over systemic corruption, political nepotism, and a government-imposed ban on 26 major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, and X. Thousands of young protesters, many in school or college uniforms, gathered in Kathmandu’s Maitighar neighborhood, marching toward the parliament complex with slogans like “Shut down corruption, not social media.” Protests also spread to cities like Pokhara, Biratnagar, Bharatpur, and Itahari.

The protests, initially sparked by the social media ban announced on September 4, escalated into a broader anti-corruption movement, resulting in violent clashes, significant loss of life, and widespread destruction. The unrest culminated in the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and the torching of key government buildings, including the federal parliament and the Supreme Court.

By Khagan Isayev