KATHMANDU: The government has started releasing jailbirds in an effort to decrease the congestion in Nepal’s jails.

This has been aimed at minimizing the risk of coronavirus infection in the prisons.

Jailbirds convicted of minor crimes and those who have already completed half their sentences will be released in the first phase.

However, those convicted of crimes such as rape, murder, corruption, and human trafficking will not be freed, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Those prisoners wishing to be released needs to file an application. According to Pradeep Raj Kandel, the chief of the Department of Prison Management, the court then will make a decision on the application.

The department, however, does not have a specific data about how many prisoners have been released after the decision.