Kathmandu, February 27:

Over 10 political leaders were set free today on a Supreme Court order following hearings on separate habeas corpus petitions.

The leaders were presented before the Kathmandu District Court before being let off. A division bench of Supreme Court Justices Paramananda Jha and Gauri Dhakal ordered the authorities to free 25 political leaders. However, some of them were already freed before the apex court order. The bench termed the political leaders’ detention illegal.

The leaders who walked free today were NC leaders Dr Ram Baran Yadav, Mahanta Thakur, Sujata Koirala, Shekhar Koirala, Laxman Prasad Ghimire, Tirtha Ram Dangol and NC president Girija Prasad Koirala’s personal assistant, Balkrishna Dahal.

Janamorcha Nepal’s leaders Hari Acharya, youth leader Buddhabir Lama and singer Nanda Krishna Joshi were also released.

“The Supreme Court has upheld the rule of law and guaranteed rights of the people,” Mahantha Thakur told journalists after his release. “We will actively participate in the movement for the restoration of democracy,” he added.

Meanwhile a habeas corpus petition was filed today seeking the release of general secretary of NC-affiliated Nepal Students’ Union, Basu Koirala.