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Main accused of Himalmedia assault holed-up inside YCL camp

Ramesh Babu Panta, one of the persons identified in the violent attack in Himalmedia, is hiding in a YCL camp in Kathmandu, myrepublica.com reported Wednesday.

The website said that it learned about Panta hiding in one of the YCL camps in Kathmandu soon after the Wednesday’s cabinet meeting ordered the Home Ministry to arrest and initiate legal action against all those involved in the Himalmedia attack, including Panta, the leader of the Maoist-affiliated All Nepal Hotel and Restaurant Workers Union.

Panta along with Ramesh K.C, who is associated with Maoist affiliated Media and Press Union, Lalitpur unit, had led a mob of 50 workers close to Maoist trade union that engaged in beating and vandalism at Himalmedia office in Lalitpur, Sunday.

However, the “highly-placed intelligence sources” who shared this piece of information with the website didn’t reveal the exact whereabouts of Panta saying that “there will be a confrontation if we try to arrest him under the current circumstances”.

However, YCL chief Ganesh Man Pun has denied claims that Panta is hiding in one of the YCL camps.

Panta has already been suspended from the CPN (Maoist) for his involvement in the assualt on Himalmedia. Prime Minister and Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal had announced Panta’s suspension in the cabinet meeting Wednesday morning. nepalnews.com Dec 25 08