India’s Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has caught 67 escaped prisoners from Nepal, including a woman, as they tried sneaking across the India-Nepal border. This comes amid the chaos from recent unrest in the Himalayan neighbor, where thousands of inmates broke free from jails.
The woman, Anjila Khatoon, was nabbed in West Bengal—marking the first time SSB personnel arrested a female escapee. Officials say all these prisoners got caught at checkpoints linking Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal to Nepal. They couldn’t show valid ID cards to the border guards, which raised red flags.
SSB has ramped up its game with stricter checks and more patrols along the 1,751-km India-Nepal border. This stretch runs through Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Sikkim, and the force, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, wants to stop any fugitives from slipping into Indian territory. So far, they’ve handed over all detainees to local police for questioning and legal steps.
The trouble started with violent anti-government protests led by Gen-Z activists across Nepal’s 77 districts. Protesters set fires, vandalized buildings, and even attacked prisons, letting inmates escape in the mayhem. This forced Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to step down on Tuesday, sparking a major law and order crisis. The Nepal Army had to impose restrictions and curfews to control the situation.
Some escapees tried blending in as regular travelers for work or trade, but their missing papers gave them away. With the open border allowing visa-free movement between India and Nepal, SSB is on high alert. They’re boosting intelligence efforts and watching vulnerable spots closely to keep things secure.
As Nepal’s unrest continues, Indian security forces stay vigilant to prevent any spillover. The number of arrests could go up with ongoing border monitoring.
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