Indian security forces apprehended 12 individuals who had escaped from prisons in Nepal and attempted to infiltrate Indian territory through Uttar Pradesh.
The arrests were made in two separate locations: eight in Siddharthnagar and four near the Sonauli border in Maharajganj district.
Among those arrested in Siddharthnagar, five were Indian nationals and three were Nepali citizens. The Nepali escapees, including Hari Lal (35) and Suraj Chaudhary (29), were previously jailed for sexual assault and narcotics-related offenses. The Indian nationals faced charges of theft and violations under the NDPS Act.
The arrests followed intensified security checks along the Indo-Nepal border, prompted by ongoing violent protests and multiple jailbreaks in Nepal. According to SP Abhishek Mahajan, the fugitives were intercepted at Khunwa and Aligarhwa border points. DIG Munna Singh confirmed that SSB personnel handed the escapees over to the concerned authorities, emphasizing that Nepalese criminals will not be sheltered in India.
Four additional escapees were caught near Sonauli, including Rajpal Singh of Sambhal and Monu Kashyap of Barabanki. SP Somendra Meena stated that interrogations are underway to uncover the circumstances of the jailbreaks and motives behind the attempted border crossing.
The incident has raised serious concerns about cross-border security and the deteriorating law and order situation in Nepal, which has reportedly weakened prison infrastructure and led to mass escapes.
