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KATHMANDU, June 2: Today marks the 24th memorial day of the Narayanhiti Royal Palace massacre, in which King Birendra Shah and his family were murdered.
On Friday, Jestha 19, 2058 BS (June 2, 2001), the royal family held a banquet at Narayanhiti Royal Palace. During that event, then King Birendra, Queen Aishwarya, Crown Prince Nirajan, Crown Princess Shruti, Birendra's oldest son Dipendra, other royal family members Shanti, Shraddha, Jayanti, and Shraddha's husband Kumar Khadga Vikram Shah were killed. They all died on the same day in the massacre.
22 years of Royal massacre: Reasons still shrouded in mystery
The then Crown Prince Dipendra, who was found in a semi-conscious state, was declared king on Jestha 20 (June 3, 2001). Since Dipendra remained unconscious and was undergoing treatment at the hospital, the then Prince Gyanendra Shah was declared acting king.
After Dipendra died on Jestha 22 (June 5, 2001), Gyanendra was officially declared king. A two-member committee, led by then Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyay and Speaker Taranath Ranabhat, was formed to investigate the incident and submit a report. Although the investigation committee concluded that Dipendra killed everyone before committing suicide, most Nepalese have not accepted this explanation.
Today's special program commemorates the memory of former King Birendra's family. On this occasion, the Yogi Narahari Nath Spiritual Council organized a memorial service and wreath-laying ceremony at the statue of former King Birendra in Jawalakhel.
