 The
Nepal Royal Killing in 2001 was one of the worst mass killings of
royalty in the recent history.
As alleged, the crown Prince of Nepal, Dipendra who carried out
the shootings wanted to marry Devyani Rana, to which his mother
queen Aishwarya was opposed.
Devyani in her 20s belonged to one of Nepal's most aristocratic
families
having filial ties with the Royal family of Gwalior.
It is alleged that Queen Aishwarya who belonged to a rival Rana
clan to which Devyani owe allegiance wanted her son to marry one
of her distant relative and not Devyani.
The anti-India feeling in Nepal being very strong could have been
another reason why Nepal Royalty never wanted to have a future queen
with Indian blood.
But Dipendra-Devyani relationship was not a secret. The couple
had been seen dining out in Kathmandu, Australia and London.
A day before the killing, a furious row had broken out
between the Crown Prince Deependra and the Queen, over his choice
of bride. His father had reportedly warned Dipendra, that he might
be passed over as heir if he disobeyed the Queen's wishes.
The fateful day, June 1, 2001 was like any other day in Narayanhity
Royal Palace. In keeping with the family tradition, a gathering
had been called in. Those who were present included King Birenda,
Queen Aishwarya, Queen Mother Ratna Laxmi, Crown Prince Dipendra,
Prince Nirajan and 24 other relatives.
 Crown
Prince Dipendra arrived at Tribhuvan Sadan at 7.30 pm. He played
billiards by himself for some time and in the course drank one or
two pegs of Famous Grouse whisky neat. He is also learnt to have
smoked a special kind of cigarette prepared with a mixture of hashish.
Dipendra then spoke to Devyani Rana for one minute l4 seconds on
his mobile no. 98l02l5l3 at 8.l2 pm. After the phone contact with
Devyani the Crown Prince put on army combat dress and came out of
the bedchamber with weapons.
Dressed in combat fatigues Dipendra entered the billiard hall and
fired with a 9 mm Caliber MP-5K automatic sub-machine gun at the
King and others gathered in the hall. The firing grew indiscriminate
killing everybody in the hall. It left nine dead and four injured.
Dipendra then shot himself. Thus ending the story of one of the
bloodiest tragedy.
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