Arrest of Nakkhu Prison Fugitive Akash Magar Following Homicide in Thamel

Law enforcement authorities have apprehended Akash Magar, a fugitive who escaped from Nakkhu Prison during a mass jailbreak in September, in connection with a homicide in the Thamel area of Kathmandu. According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ramesh Basnet, Magar was tracked down and arrested in Rolpa before being transported back to the capital for questioning.

The incident under investigation occurred on September 29 (Ashoj 13), following Magar’s escape from custody. Police reports indicate that 25-year-old Suraj Tamang, a resident of Manmaiuju originally from Makwanpur, was fatally attacked with a khukuri. Although Tamang was rushed to Bir Hospital for emergency medical treatment, he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the attack was motivated by a long-standing personal dispute between the suspect and the victim. Following the homicide, Magar reportedly fled the Kathmandu Valley to avoid capture. Investigators identified his involvement through a combination of technical analysis, manual surveillance, and a review of CCTV footage from the Thamel area.

Magar was originally serving a sentence for robbery and dacoity when he escaped from Nakkhu Prison on September 9 (Bhadra 24). His escape coincided with widespread unrest during the “Gen-Z” protests, which led to significant vandalism and arson at multiple correctional facilities across the country. Official records indicate that nearly 15,000 inmates fled during the crisis, with over 5,500 individuals still listed as at large.

The Department of Prison Management and a judicial commission led by former Special Court Judge Gauri Bahadur Karki are currently investigating the circumstances of the mass jailbreaks. Security agencies remain on high alert as they continue efforts to locate the remaining fugitives, several of whom have been linked to further criminal activities since their escape.