Kathmandu, June 13 :

The government freed over 200 Maoists detainees from various jails across the country today.

“As the government scrapped the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act Ordinance, the Home Ministry today released about 240 Maoist detainees from different jails today,” Baman Prasad Neupaney, spokesperson at the Home Ministry said.

According to him, the 240 freed Maoist detainees include 61 from Nakkhu Jail at Lalitpur, 53 from District Jail, Kaski, 23 from District Jail, Banke, 39 from District Jail, Morang and 20 from District Jail, Kanchanpur, among others.

A report from Bhairahawa said seven Maoist detainees at Bhairahawa prison were released today. Jailor at the Bhairahawa Prison, Yadav Raj Pandey, said there are no Maoist detainees in the jail now.

In Kaski, 53 of the 59 detainees held under the TADA were released from Kaski jail today, following the Appellate Court order.

However, five others could not be released because the Baglung Appellate Court has not issued a release order yet and another detainee, Ek Bahadur Dhakal of Gorkha, who was detained under a case of murder and crime before the implementation of the ordinance, has not been released.

A report from Chitwan said eight Maoist detainees were released following the order form Appellate Court, Butwal, today. Further details on release of Maoist detainees from different jails of the country are yet to arrive.