The government on Sunday released 55 people, who were arrested from anti-poll demonstrations and given three-month detention notices.
Those released includes teachers, engineers, doctors and students who were given three-month detention orders after their arrest.
Among the detainees freed included 23 professionals including former Vice Chancellor of Tribhuvan University, Nabin Prakash Jung Shah, Prof Dr Saubhagya Jung Karki, Dr Kul Prasad Koirala and Nepal Engineers’ Association chairman Saroj Devkota. They were arrested from a protest rally on February 3.
The Kathmandu District Court Sunday released 17 students belonging to the Nepal Students’ Union who were arrested from various places and were given three-month detention orders.
Among those released are NSU general secretary Ranjit Karna, NSU central member Bishnu Panthi, Bal Dev Timilsina, Hari Acharya, Sagar Bhattarai, Pritam Gurung and others, according to reports.
The court also freed 15 ANNFSU activists including Hira Bahadur KC, Rupesh Khatiwada, Prakash Neupane, Dwarika Uprety, Nabina Lama and Dipendra Gautam.
Meanwhile, the Nepal University Teachers Association Sunday threatened to announce protest programmes if the rest of the detainees were not released by tomorrow.
Also on Sunday, activists of the eight student unions protested in front of the Institute of Engineering against “autocracy” and the killing of a UML cadre in Dang.
According to reports, the government arrested nearly 1500 people across the country from anti-poll demonstrations and pro-democracy movement.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Sunday ordered the government authorities to produce 21 political leaders before the court to test the legality of their detention.
Responding to a habeas corpus petition, a single bench of justice Top Bahadur Magar issued the order to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Police Headquarters, the Kathmandu District Administration Office and the City Police Anamnagar to produce 13 political detainees including former lawmaker Sushila Nepal.
In response to separate habeas corpus petitions, the bench also ordered the government to produce a group of three political activists including Bhim Bahadur Thapa and a group of four activists, including Dipak Bista and Ghanashyam Pandey on February 16 and former deputy mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Bidur Mainali, on February 17.