The government on Wednesday has released at least eight people including three former ministers.

According to reports, former minister of state for foreign affairs Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, former minister and chairperson of Nepal Women’s Association – women’s wing of Nepali Congress—Mrs. Meena Pandey and former minister and noted intellectual Nilamber Acharya were released on Wednesday.

Dr. Mahat and Acharya were detained on February 1 while Mrs. Pandey was detained while taking part in demonstrations on Feb. 17.

Talking to Nepalnews upon his release, former minister Acharya said he was released in the presence of court officials in Kathmandu Wednesday morning.

Those released on Wednesday include central committee member of Rastriya Prajatantra Party Dilip Rai, UML leader and former MP Kamal Koirala, political activist Mukti Sharma, president of Nepali Congress Lalitpur district committee Jagat Raj Shakya and student leader Pallav Adhikari.