Himalmedia attack- accused released on bail

Ramesh Babu Panta and Ramesh K.C, the two Maoist-affiliated labour union leaders accused in the attack on Himalmedia office and its staffers 10 days ago, were released on bail Thursday.

Ramesh K.C (red jacket) and Ramesh Babu Panta (in front of K.C), the two main...

Lalitpur Chief District Officer (CDO) Laxmi Prasad Dhakal released the duo on a bail amount of Rs 12,398 each after conducting a hearing on their case at the District Administration Office.

The bail amount was meant to cover Rs 20,385 the government prosecutor had recommended as compensation to Himalmedia for the damages carried out at its offices by a group of workers allegedly led by Panta and KC.

Around 200 Maoist trade union activists and workers, who had gathered at the CDO for the hearing, started celebrating soon after the duo came out of the office following their bail. Our reporter at the scene said that the jubilant crowd smeared the duo's faces with vermillion as a sign of victory and also held a small procession for some time.

"We were not involved in the attack [on Himalmedia]. We were wrongly accused," Panta, chairman of All Nepal Hotel and Restaurant Workers' Union, told media persons and the jubilant crowd after his release. "A high level probe commission should investigate the Himal incident and bring out the truth."

Panta and K.C also demanded that the 18 staffers wrongfully sacked by the Himalmedia should be reinstated at the earliest.

Chairman of Maoist Trade Union Shalikram Jammarkattel, who arrived at the CDO office for the hearing but left immediately after Panta and KC were released, said that he not will let rich business owners exploit the workers and will always fight for their rights. He also described the Himalmedia episode as a "class struggle" between workers and rich businessman.

Jammarkattel, however, stressed on resolving the "Himalmedia labour dispute" through dialogue, but at the same time warned of "serious consequences" if the workers rights are undermined while doing that. He was clearly referring to the employees who were laid off by Himalmedia citing growing company losses.

Panta and KC were remanded to 10-day police custody on Sunday. The district Administration Office, Lalitpur, remanded Panta and KC to 10-day police custody on Sunday, as requested by the police, in order to complete the inquiry.

Kunda Dixit, the editor/publisher of Nepali Times weekly, one of the publications of Himalmedia, had lodged a case at the District Police Office, Lalitpur, on Thursday, demanding legal action against the two and others involved in the attack last Sunday.

The two main accused had surrendered to the DAO on Friday.