Kailali Prison Leadership Change After Deadly Inmate Clash in Nepal

Jailor Jalandhar Bhusal from Banke Prison has been appointed to temporarily lead Kailali Prison after its chief, Basanta Khatri, went on medical leave. Kailali District Administration Office spokesperson Shiva Raj Joshi confirmed the move is not a transfer but an acting assignment until Khatri returns.

In Khatri’s absence, Ram Kumar Chaudhary had been serving as acting chief. The situation turned tense on Friday when a violent clash erupted between two groups of inmates inside the facility, resulting in the death of 40-year-old Bharat Chaudhary, a resident of Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City–4. He had been in custody for six months on drug-related charges.

The brawl left 47 inmates injured. Among them, Ayush Bhatt from Godawari was flown to Kathmandu for advanced treatment. Others are being treated at Seti Provincial Hospital, where inmate Rabi Chaudhary’s condition is reported as critical.

Following the incident, prisoners locked themselves inside the facility throughout Saturday. Authorities have formed a five-member investigation committee led by Assistant Chief District Officer Kiran Joshi.

The panel includes Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Raj Kumar Singh from the District Police Office, DSP Janak Raj Pant from the Armed Police Force, and Investigation Officer Dipendra Singh, with spokesperson Shiva Raj Joshi as member secretary.

The committee has been given ten days to submit its report. Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak also received a detailed briefing on the incident and security measures from the heads of the country’s security agencies on Saturday.