Prison incident report: Clash in Kailali jail linked to internal administrative differences

Dhangadhi: The committee formed to probe the violent clash at Kailali Prison has concluded that the incident stemmed from internal administrative differences within the facility.

Assistant Chief District Officer Kiran Joshi, who coordinated the investigation committee, said that the clash appeared to have erupted due to disputes between the prison’s internal administrations of ‘A Block’ and ‘B Block.’ “After inspecting the scene and holding discussions with injured prisoners, the prison administration, and security personnel, it seems the conflict arose from internal differences,” Joshi said.

She emphasized that a higher-level investigation involving experts is necessary to uncover the full truth. “The CCTV footage is unclear, injured inmates have denied involvement, and conversations alone do not provide a sufficient basis for confirmation. A high-level probe with experts is essential,” she stated.

The committee was tasked with submitting its findings within 10 days to the Chief District Officer. The July 23 clash left one inmate dead and 49 others injured. Three seriously injured prisoners are still undergoing treatment in Kathmandu.

Of the 41 inmates admitted to Seti Provincial Hospital in Dhangadhi, three have been discharged, while three others were transferred to Kanchanpur Prison and one to Nawalparasi Prison. Although several have been discharged by the hospital, many prisoners continue to stay there, with authorities working to transfer them to prisons of their choice for proper management.

In response to the incident, the government has recalled Kailali Chief District Officer Gogan Bahadur Hamal, appointing Krishna Prasad Lamsal as his replacement. A new head has also been appointed for the prison administration.

Currently, 697 inmates are being held in Kailali Prison, despite its capacity of just 150.