KATHMANDU, APRIL 30
Police have arrested 1,460 escaped prisoners in Sudurpaschim Province over the past nine months.
The detainees, who were involved in various criminal offences, had fled after being sentenced to imprisonment and fines by courts and district administration offices. They have since been rearrested and sent back to prison.
A total of 1,460 fugitives were apprehended and incarcerated during the first nine months of the current fiscal year (up to April 14), said Padam Bista, spokesperson for the Sudurpaschim Province Police Office in Dhangadhi and Senior Superintendent of Police.
According to the Provincial Police Office, the highest number of arrests was recorded in Kailali, where 732 absconders were detained, followed by Kanchanpur with 410. Similarly, 101 fugitives were arrested from Dadeldhura, 12 from Doti, 43 from Achham, 73 from Darchula, nine from Baitadi, 58 from Bajhang and 22 from Bajura.
"Police teams have been mobilised across all nine districts to track down fugitives who have been sentenced to long-term imprisonment. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend those who escaped during the Gen Z movement," Bista said.
During the Gen Z movement on September 8 and 9 last year, a total of 1,458 prisoners escaped from prisons across Sudurpaschim Province, he added. Of them, 1,120 have since been recaptured, while 338 remain at large.
Police officials suspect that many of the escapees may have fled to India and are currently in hiding there.
(With inputs from Rastriya Samachar Samiti)
