India Ups Border Security Amid Nepal Jailbreaks; 21 Detained In Bihar

Last Updated:September 11, 2025, 12:07 IST

According to reports, at least 7,000 prisoners from different jails across Nepal have fled in several jailbreaks.

People move past a security check post in the wake of violent protests that erupted in Kathmandu, near the India-Nepal border, in Raxaul, Bihar. (Image: PTI)

Tensions have escalated along the India–Nepal border after a series of prison escapes in Nepal amid the country’s political and social turmoil. At least 21 people were detained in Bihar’s Sitamarhi, that shares border with Nepal, after prisoners from the Jaleshwar jail reportedly attempted to enter India. The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and local police have stepped up vigilance across the neighboring districts.

“Following the jailbreak in Nepal’s Jaleshwar, an alert was sounded and 21 people have been detained. All police stations are on alert, and in view of the situation, buses and vehicles are being checked in Sitamarhi," Amit Ranjan, SP of Sitamarhi, told PTI.

According to reports, at least 7,000 prisoners from different jails across Nepal have fled in several jailbreaks after protesters set fire to government buildings and prisons in the country.

Nepal Jailbreaks

Jaleshwar Prison: Protesters and inmates at Jaleshwar overwhelmed the jail one evening, bringing down walls and gates. Reports say nearly all prisoners were able to flee: most outlets put the number of escapees in the mid-500s (roughly 570–576). Videos and witness accounts described crowds surging through the compound while prison records and some infrastructure were damaged, complicating later identification and recapture. Indian border forces later reported intercepting some of those who tried to cross into neighbouring Bihar.

Nakhu (Nakhhu)/Lalitpur Prison: Nakhu jail in Lalitpur, within the Kathmandu valley, was among the facilities stormed as protests swept the capital. Demonstrators forced entry, damaged internal records and set some documents ablaze; prison gates were broken and large groups of inmates streamed out amid the chaos. Authorities said hundreds fled from central-Kathmandu-area prisons while security services struggled to restore order.

Gaur Jail: In Rautahat’s Gaur facility, attackers and rioters reportedly overran the jail compound, allowing most inmates to break out. Local reports suggest that of a few hundred detainees held there, a large majority escaped after the compound was vandalised.

Prisons in central Kathmandu saw large numbers of inmates leave as protests and rioting engulfed government areas. Demonstrators attacked detention blocks, torched nearby buildings and in some cases forced guards to retreat. Multiple reports put the tally from central-Kathmandu facilities in the hundreds to thousands, and noted that some escapees used the confusion to flee into city neighbourhoods.

Kapilvastu/Taulihawa Jail: Authorities also reported escapes from the Kapilvastu area’s jail at Taulihawa, with several fugitives trying to move towards the India border. Indian security forces (SSB) detained a small group of escapees — including both Nepali and Indian nationals — while they attempted to cross at known porous points. Those apprehended told investigators they fled the unrest and, in some cases, sought to surrender to Indian custody rather than face the lawlessness back home.

Several peripheral and far-western jails — including facilities in Jumla, Bajhang and Kailali — also reported inmates fleeing after guards were overwhelmed or fled themselves. In many of these districts the prisons are small and already overcrowded; when protesters in nearby towns clashed with security units, detainees seized the moment to escape.

In the hill district of Dhading and in a few juvenile homes, clashes between guards and fleeing detainees turned deadly; local media reported that a small number of inmates and juveniles died in the confrontations. Several juvenile detainees also escaped when security weakened, and officials later reported both fatalities and injuries among inmates and staff.

Tulsipur (Dang district area) and parts of Kailali also saw coordinated attacks on jails as protests radiated from urban centres into smaller towns. The Nepal Army on Thursday also fired shots at prisoners taking advantage of the country’s unrest and power vacuum, who attempted to flee from the Ramechhap prison. The Kathmandu Post quoted authorities as reporting that the army troops opened fire to stop a mass breakout from Ramechhap District Prison, wounding more than a dozen inmates.

India’s Borders With Nepal

India shares an extensive land border of approximately 1,751 km with Nepal. The Indian states along this border are – Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim.

These states are crucial because of their porous terrain in many stretches, cross-border people movement, trade, and shared culture. Security along these stretches becomes especially important when instability arises across the border.

In response to the jail breaks and unrest in Nepal, India has taken multiple steps to secure the border. The Sashastra Seema Bal has intensified checks at all entry points along the Nepal border. Identity verification (ID cards, travel documents) is being emphasised.

According to news agency ANI, paramilitary forces and police were on patrol at Panitanki in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal. Trucks were stranded as trade was partially halted amid the tensions. Area superintendent of police (SP) Praveen Parkash said, “A police post has been set up here with deployment of force. We are on alert mode and monitoring the situation. There’s no information about anyone being stuck."

Additionally, similar alerts were also placed in Uttar Pradesh and other regions of India that border Nepal.

Joint patrols and tight coordination between SSB and state/local police in border districts (especially in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand) have been stepped up. Some routes and crossings are being tested more carefully; authorities are allowing only those having proper identification to cross in many places.

In Bihar, the Kathmandu-Maitri bus service has been suspended until further notice.

District administrations in border states have placed border police stations on high alert. Surveillance of villages near the border has increased.

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