Dhading, September 21:

An excess of jailbirds is crammed like sardines in a tin can in Dhading district jail. The jail that has the capacity to accommodate just 25 prisoners is currently housing 56 prisoners including three women, said Manoj Koirala, a district jail staffer.

Twenty-prisoners, including a woman, are serving time for manslaughter. Others are serving time for fraud, attempt to murder and robbery. The prisoners are forced to fight for space to sleep at night, said Koirala.

The prison is crammed and small but it has open land to the tune of 10 ropanis. Cows graze freely on the meadow on the open land. Sixteen police personnel including an assistant police inspector and seven prison warders are keeping vigil over these 56 prisoners.