Kathmandu: More than 5,000 prisoners, including those serving sentences for various crimes and detainees from correctional facilities, have returned to prison after escaping during the recent Gen-G movement.

According to Sandesh Prasad Joshi, Information Officer at the Prison Management Department, a total of 5,434 prisoners have returned as of 4 PM Tuesday. This number includes those who voluntarily surrendered and those who were arrested by security forces.

Joshi said that of the 30,634 prisoners across the country, 14,555 escaped during the protests, including 964 from correctional facilities. Of those who have returned so far, 363 are from correctional facilities.

Casualties Reported, One Suicide
Authorities have confirmed 11 deaths linked to the mass escape — five from prisons, five from correctional facilities, and one prisoner who reportedly committed suicide in Saptari forest after fleeing.

Return Process and Ongoing Operations
Joshi said that notices have been issued urging escapees to surrender immediately and that the District Administration Offices are coordinating efforts to facilitate returns. Some prisoners have been arrested at the border, although Joshi believes the number of those who fled to India is limited due to tightened security.

He added that many prisoners may be hiding at home and could return after celebrating upcoming festivals.

Public Safety Concerns
Police have warned that prisoners convicted of heinous crimes are at risk of reoffending while outside custody, posing a threat to public safety.

Observers noted that the jailbreak gained momentum after Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSWP) President Rabi Lamichhane walked out of Nakkhu Prison with his family and cadres, setting off a wave of prison escapes across the country.