The suspects were released later in the evening on condition that they would appear before the police as and when called after the victims did not identify those arrested as assailants, police said. [break]
"The place could have been used by an unidentified group instead of YCL cadres themselves to commmit the crime," said SP Ramesh Kharel, the chief of Metropolitan Police Range Kathmandu.
"The reported culprits who used YCL or the camp are yet to contact us," he added.
YCL camps in the capital are notorious for being used to batter and coerce people in connection with financial disputes. Parties involved in financial disputes sometimes seek YCL help in settling such disputes by paying certain amount to the YCL. The authorities rarely intervene in the overt illegal activities that take place inside YCL camps.
According to MPRK, Shakti Lamsal, 20, of Khotang, and Maya Dhakal, 33, of Rupandehi, were held and beaten up inside the camp by a group that forced the duo to sign a document where they promised to pay Rs 1.4 million to one Ramesh Pun.
The two victims told police that a group of youths with long hair attacked them at the camp. Police failed to prosecute the arrested six persons as the victims in their statement said the suspected YCL cadres had rather protected them. "We could not lodge cases against them as the statement given by the victims did not back our suspicion," Kharel said.
Among the arrested were Shishir Lama, 25, the camp in-charge and his three aides -- Gyane Tamang, 17, Bibas Shrestha, 23, and Deepak Kapri, 19. Two others who were staying in the camp as guests, were arrested mistakenly.
The incident, officials said, brought to light how financial disputes are sorted out inside YCL camps that in turn bring huge benefits to the Maoists. "Many people approach YCL to get their financial issues resolved faster rather than going to the government agencies who respond tardily," officials added.
According to MPRK officials, the circumstances that turned Lamasal and Dhakal into victims is quite interesting. The two had taken an undisclosed amount from Ramesh Pun promising him a job in Afghanistan. After failing to fulfil their promise, they had been avoiding Ramesh who demanded a refund.
"YCL and the sister organizations of other parties are also taking advantage of financial disputes that have resulted in the rise in crimes like kidnappings and coercion," officials said.
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