Chief of the police office, Kedar Man Singh Bhandari told myrepublica.com that they will be presented before the District Attorney Office on Sunday for recording their statements on their alleged role in attacking journalists and staff of Himalmedia and vandalizing the publication’s office.
Himalmedia has accused Panta and KC of leading the attack in which some 50 people were involved. The attackers had injured journalists and staff, and vandalized the office of the publication.
Earlier in the afternoon, Panta and KC surrendered to the district administration office a day after Himalmedia filed a complaint identifying six main accused including Panta and KC. In the meantime, Bhandari said police have been mobilized to arrest those accused in the complaint.
Himalmedia has sought punishment for the accused under the Public Offense Act. If found guilty, they could face jail term of up to two years and pay for the physical damages caused to the office, said Tika Ram Bhattarai, Himalmedia´s lawyer handing the case.
The Public Offence Act says the case filed under the law will be decided by the chief district officer and the accused could be released on bail determined by the chief district officer. The case under the law is not presented before any court of law and will be decided by the concerned chief district officer.
The arrest of Panta and KC is the main demand of the agitating Federation of Nepali Journalists and Alliance for Press Freedom, a grouping of publishers and editors, for talks with the government.
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