At least 232 inmates have been released so far from the six detention centres in Assam, following a Supreme Court directive.

The apex court had directed on April 13 to release those who have spent more than two years in detention centres on execution of bond with two sureties of Rs 5,000 each by two Indian citizens on behalf of the detainee, the standing counsel representing the state, Jiten Payeng, told The Telegraph on Monday after a hearing.

The order was given following several petitions in view of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Another 50 individuals have completed two years but they have not able to submit the documents. The next hearing will be held three weeks from April 27.

After the Supreme Court order, Gauhati High Court had on April 15 directed that the maximum number of eligible detainees be released within a week. The Union home ministry had informed the Rajya Sabha that there were 802 individuals held in Assam’s six detention centres as on March 6, 2020.