Murder convict sentenced to life remains absconding

By Ajay Shah, Gaushala (Mahottari), April 13: A man convicted in a murder case who escaped from Jaleshwar Prison during the Gen Z movement has still not been arrested, raising fear and a deep sense of injustice among the victim’s family.

According to police, Mandip Kumar Yadav, of Khoriya in Chakraghatta Rural Municipality-9 of Sarlahi, remains absconding despite being sentenced to life imprisonment and ordered to pay Rs 50,000 in compensation in the murder case of 22-year-old Anu Rai of Ratwara, Mahottari Rural Municipality–4.

Yadav had already been in police custody after being arrested on December 15, 2024. He was accused of murdering Anu Rai, with whom he was reportedly in a romantic relationship, on the night of October 8, 2024, in the forest area of Tuteshwar, Bardibas Municipality-5. 

Mahottari District Court had sent him to judicial custody on January 12, 2025, for further trial.

However, during the Gen Z movement on September 9, Yadav escaped from Jaleshwar Prison along with other inmates. Since then, police have continued the search but have not yet been able to arrest him.

While he remained on the run, the Mahottari District Court on February 2026, sentenced him to life imprisonment and ordered him to pay Rs 50,000 as compensation. The verdict was officially certified onMarch 29, 2026.

The victim’s family has demanded that the convict be arrested immediately and brought back under legal custody.

 Anu Rai’s father, Rambinesh Rai, said that despite a long time having passed since his daughter’s murder, the convict’s continued escape from prison has left the family feeling that justice has not been served.

“As long as the murderer is not punished by law, my daughter will not get justice,” he said.

He further stated that the family continues to live in fear and feels a growing sense of injustice as the convict remains openly absconding.

District Police Office, Mahottari, said that the search for inmates who escaped during the movement has been intensified. 

Information Officer Police Inspector Bishwambhar Nath Sah said efforts to arrest the absconding accused are ongoing.

He added that police are prioritizing the arrest of individuals absconding in various cases and that some fugitives are being arrested daily. He also expressed confidence that Mandip Kumar Yadav would be arrested soon.

The incident has raised serious questions over prison security, inmate management during protests, and the effectiveness of the judicial process.

 Stakeholders have called for the swift arrest of the fugitive and stricter security measures to prevent such incidents from recurring.