Kathmandu, April 22 -- A total of 409 prisoners have been freed from various jails across the country following a Supreme Court order to release people held for minor charges.

The Department of Prison Management said that 409 of the 418 who had applied for early release have been freed so far. Of the 409 people freed, 219 were released from juvenile correction homes.

The Supreme Court, on March 20, ordered the government to release prisoners sentenced for up to a year in prison for minor crimes. The decision to release the prisoners to minimise the spread of the coronavirus was taken at a meeting chaired by Attorney General Agni Kharel with the participation of Home Secretary Maheshwor Kumar Neupane, Law Secretary Rajib Gautam, Police C...