The government has made public the status of 174 persons said to have been missing after arrests by government forces during the Maoist insurgency.

Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula told the Friday’s sitting of the House of Representatives that out of 776 reported cases of involuntary disappearance, the government was able to confirm the status of only 174 citizens.

The report was prepared by a committee headed by a joint secretary of the Home Ministry, Baman Prasad Neupane. The committee was formed one month ago.

Out of 174 disappeared persons, 52 were killed, one has been absconding, one still remains in jail while rest the have already been released, Situala said although he didn’t mention if the 52 people were killed in encounters between the security forces and the Maoists or due to other reasons.

The Home Minister informed that criminal cases had been filed against three persons in court, two of them were released on bail and one still remains in prison.

He further said the government has received information from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), other human rights bodies and other sources that a total of 776 citizens have been missing following arrests by government forces at different times.

A cabinet meeting had on Monday decided to publicise the status of disappeared people within two days.

Families and relatives of disappeared persons have been launching regular protests, asking the government to publicise the whereabouts of their loved ones.