Kathmandu: Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak has acknowledged that some prisons in the country are overcrowded, as many inmates and detainees prefer to remain in facilities located in their home districts and are often reluctant to be transferred elsewhere. Speaking at a meeting of the Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee of the House of Representatives (HoR), the Home Minister discussed the government’s ongoing efforts and future plans to transform prisons into correctional facilities.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the Home Minister revealed that plans are underway to establish hospitals, factories, schools, playgrounds, and other necessary infrastructure within the prison premises. He referred to the Dhangadhi Prison incident on the night of August 7 and noted that despite the Prisons Act-2079 BS provisions for separate chambers for detainees/inmates with special gender or sexual identities, mental health issues, and those convicted of severe crimes, these arrangements have not been fully implemented.
Updating the committee on the incident, the Home Minister stated that the injured were immediately taken to the hospital. Among the three referred to Kathmandu, two are undergoing treatment at the Trauma Centre, and one at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH), Maharajgunj. The body of the deceased has been handed over to the family following the completion of legal procedures.
He further informed the meeting that the remaining 45 injured have been discharged from the Seti Provincial Hospital and transferred to other prisons where they face no security threats. Additionally, 17 individuals identified as ‘leaders’ of the conflicting groups have been relocated. The Home Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to improving the rights of inmates and detainees by ensuring access to health insurance and other basic services.
He also mentioned that preparations are underway for the transfer of the former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Rabi Lamichhane, who is currently detained. He assured that the former minister has not been denied any facilities and, despite the congested condition of the prison, has been provided with a separate room. The prison management regularly approaches him to address his concerns, but this does not imply special treatment.
The Home Minister recognized the urgency for improvements in the prison system, admitting that budgetary constraints have hindered progress. He shared that over 7,000 inmates are currently engaged in productive sectors and highlighted the government’s efforts to ensure quality health services and psychological counseling for inmates. The implementation of the open prison concept has resulted in the release of over 2,075 inmates on parole in the past year alone.
Furthermore, he pledged legal action against those found guilty in connection with the Kailali prison incident once the investigation committee’s report is made public, emphasizing that the entry of weapons into prisons is unacceptable.