Patna, April 29 :Bihar may free Nepalese Maoists languishing in the state's prisons after two senior communist leaders from the neighbouring country asked for the release of their "comrades", official sources said here Tuesday.
"The Bihar government has sought details of Nepalese Maoists lodged in different jails to identify them," sources in Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's office said.
At least three dozen Nepalese Maoists are lodged in different Bihar jails, according to official sources in the state prison department.
Senior Nepalese Maoist leaders, Hisila Yami and C.P. Gajurel, were here recently to attend a two-day seminar during which they initiated talks with Nitish Kumar on the issue.
According to the sources, the chief minister asked Yami and Gajurel to provide the exact number of Nepalese Maoists imprisoned in the state and their detailed case records.
Following the success of the two-day seminar on Emerging Trends in India-Nepal Relations that concluded here Sunday, the state government assured the Maoist leaders that their "comrades" would be released, which will strengthen the friendship between the two countries, said the sources.
"We sought an early release of dozens of Nepalese Maoists during our meeting with Nitish Kumar," said Yami, minister for physical planning and works in the outgoing interim government, who was leading a 45-member delegation from Nepal for the seminar.
Yami was the first senior Maoist leader from Nepal to visit India after the former guerrillas emerged victorious in the April 10 constituent assembly polls.
She said Nitish Kumar assured them he would consider their request for release of Nepalese Maoists.
"Our discussion was positive and cordial on this issue," said Yami, a politburo member of the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist and wife of senior Maoist leader Baburam Bhattarai.
Gajurel, also a senior CPN-Maoist politburo member, said the Nepalese Maoists in Bihar's jails were activists of the party. "We have requested Nitish Kumar to arrange their early release. He responded well," he said.
Bihar shares an open border with Nepal 700 km long.
(IANS)