Kathmandu: Nepal Government on Monday decided to withdraw all cases against the Maoists detained in various jails under the anti-terror act and release them.
The Cabinet meeting chaired by Nepal Prime Minister G P Koirala also decided not to pursue further investigations against the Maoist cadres facing charges under the anti-terror law.
Maoist spokesman Krishna Bahadur Mahara said the Government has agreed to free hundreds of rebel prisoners in a bid to boost the peace process. "The Government has assured us that they will release 350 of our comrades today and drop charges against them. After these releases, there will still be around 250 in prison," he said, adding it has also promised that "they are going to help us get the comrades in India released."
Releasing the jailed cadres was one of the preconditions set by the Maoists to move ahead in the peace process, Minister for Information and Communication, Dilendra Badu told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.
Prisoners detained under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Ordinance are "in the process of being released," he said.
The decision came as Maoist chief negotiator Mahara announced that Koirala and rebel chief Prachanda will hold talks soon to resolve the decade-old-conflict in the country.
Mahara also said that the elections to the Constituent Assembly are not very far.
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