Mystery remains over Palace massacre

It’s been exactly nine years since the royal palace massacre in Nepal. But questions on the incident still linger. The recent is revelations made by former king Birendra Shah’s press secretary Chiran Shumsher Rana in a report.

Updated on: Jun 2, 2010, 01:49:57 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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It’s been exactly nine years since the royal palace massacre in Nepal. But questions on the incident still linger.

The recent is revelations made by former king Birendra Shah’s press secretary Chiran Shumsher Rana in a report published by Nepal, a weekly magazine.

Rana, who served the royal family for several decades, states in the report that opposition to his wedding was not the only reason why prince Dipendra orchestrated the massacre.

On June 1, 2001, thirteen members of the royal family including king Birendra and his wife Aishwarya were killed by Dipendra in a shooting spree. He later shot himself and succumbed to death.

His parents’ opposition to his plans to marry the girl of his choice — Devyani Rana — was stated to be the reason for his act.

In the report Rana states that while the queen was opposed to this wedding, the king had remained silent. Birendra was unhappy with his father’s silence, it mentions. The report mentions that there were differences in the family for some time and Birendra was not having the best of relations with his brothers, Gyanendra and Dhirendra.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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