The Nepali Army has stated that it is taking seriously the potential security challenges that may arise from the possible combination of weapons looted and inmates who escaped during the Gen-Z movement. At a press conference held at the Army Headquarters, Jangi Adda, on October 17, 2025, the Army made a heartfelt appeal to all levels and sectors to make joint efforts to return the weapons and escaped inmates.
According to the Nepali Army, out of the 15,588 inmates and detainees who escaped during the movement, 8,799 have so far returned. The rest are still at large. Of the 978 firearms looted from the security agencies, 586 have been recovered so far, while the remaining weapons are still missing.
Within the Kathmandu Valley alone, the Nepali Army has already handed over 274 recovered weapons to the Nepal Police and 12 to the Armed Police Force. During the Gen-Z movement, demonstrations occurred at 484 locations, resulting in the deaths of 22 protesters, three police personnel, ten inmates, and 41 others. In addition, 688 government offices and other physical infrastructures were damaged due to vandalism and arson.
At the press conference, Chief of the Military Operations Department, Brigadier General Anup Jung Thapa, expressed the view that, given the current situation, the country’s future direction must be clear and result-oriented. He said, “For that, we have realized the need for the Army to continually enhance its resources, tools, and professional capacity to remain ever ready to face any potential challenge.”
Brigadier General Thapa remarked that amid the uncertainty, suspicion, and various questions following the Gen-Z movement, the Army’s objective and well-intentioned efforts to assess the security situation and maintain peace and order have themselves been clarifying many of those questions. He said, “In the coming days, it is necessary for the entire intellectual community, social workers, journalists, and citizens to prioritize social harmony, national unity, and institutional stability while contributing from their respective roles to identify solutions to the nation’s fundamental issues.”
Recalling that it is the Nepali tradition to stand united in difficult times, Brigadier General Thapa called for collective efforts to uphold this culture by safeguarding national interests in times of crisis, disaster, or adversity. He concluded, “In all these circumstances, the Nepali Army has been, is, and will continue to remain ever ready for the protection of the nation and its people.”
National News Agency