Tackling Security Threat

On the second day of the Generation Z (Gen Z) protest, one inmate, along with hundreds of others, had fled the Nakkhu Jail. After the jailbreak, the fugitive is reported to have murdered his wife. With a huge number of prisoners now out in society, concerns over security threats are growing, not just nationally but internationally as well. 

Police authorities say that over 14,000 inmates have escaped from 28 police custody and detention centres. While the police have arrested more than 7,300 fugitives, others remain safe from the purview of the legal system. Besides Nepali nationals, these inmates also include foreigners belonging to China, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and other countries. What is more concerning is the nature of crimes that the majority of them have committed. To name a few, they include murder, rape, robbery, drug trafficking and foreign currency smuggling.

This is a serious threat to the peace and order of society. In the aftermath of the protest, the society is instilled with fear. Mental health concerns like trauma, depression and anxiety are rising among people of all ages because of fear and chaotic situations. The death of young protesters and destruction of valued public and private properties have also been a source of worry for every sane person.  

The massive jailbreak points to an already weak police administration that has been further rendered ineffective and defenseless during the protest. Nepal Police has long faced a systemic challenge of poor institutional capacity, centred on inadequate financial, human and technological resources. Also, the authority has long been criticised for getting politicised and corrupt. It is a bitter truth that inadequate crisis and emergency-centric preparations led to the surrender of authority during the protest. The key motive of the Gen-Z protest was to fight against social media ban, growing corruption and joblessness in the country. However, the protest was hijacked by groups vested with their own interest. Subsequently, it led to the opening of Pandora’s Box.

The impact has been profound and far-reaching. Not limited just to the domestic grounds, it has reached the international level. Members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), starting with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), followed by Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman, have tightened visa processes for Nepalis willing to travel there. Their concern stems from the release of fugitives as they believe such individuals could arrive in their country for foreign employment, instigating criminal activities there. While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already initiated diplomatic dialogue with the UAE, we can rebuild confidence only through concrete actions on the domestic front. 

At this critical time, the interim government and the security agencies must prioritise immediate search, identification and return of convicts to custody. Given the open border with India, Nepal must tighten its border security and maintain close coordination with India to prevent fugitives from escaping. 

For this, unity among people is fundamental. A unified society is able to fight better against lawlessness and the state of disorder that is evident in the country. With cooperation between security agencies and the public, we can improve the current situation. There is a need to expedite the process of catching fugitives and strengthening the existing security system. This is more than essential to not just enhance Nepal’s image but also safeguard the victims’ fundamental right to justice and reinstate social order.