KATHMANDU: Police personnel on Thursday night apprehended Palden Lama, the prime accused of January 20 Gothatar shootout that killed a school kid and left three others injured.

Superintendent of Police Ganesh KC, in-charge, Metropolitan Police Range, Hanumandhoka, said Palden was arrested from Gahate in Dapcha-3, Kavre.

Acting on a tip-off, the police had found his hideout in one of his kin's house.

Palden has confessed his involvement in the crime and will face murder charges, KC said. Palden was a student at Amrit Science College before he joined the goons, KC added.

Palden told the investigating officials that he was sheltering in Kavre after the shootout. Hundreds of police were mobilised to manhunt the accused. Of the accused, Pasang Lama and Rameshwor Shrestha were arrested on the day of the shootout. Nine others Ratna, Furwa, Kchhiring, Sanjeev Lama, Vikram Lama, Bijaya Gurung, Yamraj Lama and Lalu Tamang are still at large.

However, the police would soon arrest those at large, acting on information provided by Palden in course of questioning, claimed SP KC.

Santosh-- a 2nd grader at Bhimeshwor Academy in Birendrachowk of Gothatar -- was returning home, when a dispute over gravel piled up in the middle of a road turned to a shootout. Santosh was caught in the firing though Rajaram Khadka, a local was the major target of the shootout. The harried locals led by Rajaram had long been complaining about the construction material Ratna Lama had piled up on the road.

Lama, a village committee member of the Unified CPN- Maoist, Kavre has been dismissed from the party following the incident.