Kathmandu: More than 1,500 prisoners escaped during the ongoing Gen Z revolution in Nepal after riots spread to jails, local reports said. Among those who broke free were former minister Sanjay Kumar Sah and Rabi Lamichhane, president of the political Independent Party.

Protesters stormed Nakhu Jail in Lalitpur on Tuesday, with hundreds entering the compound and unleashing violence. Cells were broken open, releasing inmates, while others managed to smash their own locks and flee. Demonstrators also set fire to prison records. Despite the presence of police and prison officials, no intervention was reported.

Sanjay Kumar Sah, who had been serving a life sentence for the past 13 years, was convicted as the mastermind behind a 2012 bomb blast that killed five people. He is also accused of the murder of Radio Today owner Arun Singhania. After his escape, Sah claimed he was innocent and expressed support for the Gen Z movement.

Rabi Lamichhane, a high-profile political leader, was also freed by the Gen Z protestors. He had been jailed in connection with a cooperative fund fraud case.

Widespread looting accompanied the unrest. Shops and banks were targeted, including the Baneshwar branch of Rashtriya Banijya Bank, which was ransacked by assailants. Authorities said the army has arrested 26 people in connection with robberies.