Convicted Smuggler Voluntarily Returns to Prison After Mass Jailbreak

TDT | MKathmandu

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Days after escaping along with more than 13,500 inmates during violent anti-corruption protests in Nepal, convicted smuggler Avinash Rai stunned his family by returning to prison on his own.

The 46-year-old, who had been serving a sentence for smuggling goods across the India-Nepal border, appeared at his relatives’ home in Kathmandu following last week’s unrest that saw protesters torch the parliament and topple the government.

The mass jailbreak occurred as security forces lost control in the capital, with at least 73 people killed during the nationwide violence. Fires and riots broke out across multiple jails, forcing prison gates open and allowing inmates to flee.

“We were in a situation where saving our own lives was a challenge,” Rai said, speaking to reporters outside Kathmandu’s Nakhu Prison before surrendering. Carrying two small bags on his shoulders, he added, “There were no cops here — there was massive arson and vandalism. The gate was open after that.”

Rai recalled emerging into violent crowds and fires consuming parts of the city. “It was a really bad time out. Now I’m going in,” he said.

The protests, largely led by youth, began on September 8 following a temporary ban on social media. What started as peaceful demonstrations quickly escalated into a national crisis, fuelled by public outrage over corruption and long-standing economic grievances. A government crackdown left at least 19 dead, sparking even greater anger that led to the storming of state buildings and chaos in prisons.

Rai, who has already served 20 months of his 22-month sentence, has appealed to Nepal’s new leadership for leniency.