The duo enjoys delicacies from five-star hotels at Lalitpur Metropolitan Police Range together with assurances from top government officials regarding their case.

Sources revealed that snacks are brought from casino-running hotels of Kathmandu with the bill of fare including the choicest varieties of chicken, mutton and dessert. 

It's not that union activists are paying for such indulgence. "They just pack the best food items and say we are taking them for our leaders," said a source at a hotel.

Besides, top Maoist leaders including ministers queue up at the police station to inquire about their well-being. "They come to meet Pant and KC with fresh fruits and juices, there are always heaps of fruits for the duo " said the source.

The police provide ordinary food for detainees, but kin and friends are allowed to bring special food for detainees, police said. Among the ministers visiting the detainees are Minister for Information and Communications Krishna Bahdur Mahara, Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Hisila Yami and Minister for General Administration Pampha Bhusal. Maoist trade union chief Salikram Jamma Kattel is a frequent visitor too.

The duo had surrendered to the police when the editor of Nepali Times, Kunda Dixit filed a complaint at the police station on Dec 26 for attacking Himalmedia and thrashing journalists.

Pant is chairman of Maoist-aligned All Nepal Hotel and Restaurant Workers' Union and KC is Vice-chair of All Nepal Communications, Printing and Publication Workers' Union.