Rautahat, Sept. 18 -- Fifty Indian nationals jailed in Madhesh Province of Nepal escaped from prisons on September 9 during the Gen Z protests last week, officials confirmed.

The fugitives had been serving sentences for crimes including murder, possession of illegal arms, robbery, drug trafficking, forgery, abduction and rape.

The largest breakout occurred at Gaur Prison in Rautahat, where 17 Indian inmates fled along with hundreds of other jailbirds.

Prison chief Manish Jha said five have since been handed over to Nepal Police by India's border security force, but 12 remain missing.

Of the 291 inmates housed at Gaur, 264 escaped after breaking open the gates; 86 have been brought back so far, while 178 are still being traced.

In Mah...