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Kathmandu, June 15: Nepal was normal Friday after an overnight announcement by a powerful investigation commission that Crown Prince Dipendra started a carnage at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace June 1 killing or injuring 14 members of the royal family and relatives, including King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya, officials said. "There have been no reports of untoward incidents anywhere in the country today," a government insider said. Life in the capital was normal Friday. Businesses closed suddenly Thursday evening fearing violence coinciding with the release of a report by a two member commission headed by Chief Justice Keshab Prasad Upadhaya investigating the tragedy.

King Gyanendra ordered the immediate release of the report after it  was submitted to him by Upadhaya and Speaker of the House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhatt.

Maoists fighting for a communist state in the kingdom have alleged a conspiracy in the shoot-out considered one of the most gruesome in world history. The commission took seven days to  complete the 200 page report. nepalnews.com br

Five policemen injured

Kathmandu, June 15: Five policemen were injured, and a police outpost in a village in Dang district  was completely destroyed Thursday night by Maoists, police said quoting initial reports. Full details were not available. Rebels overran the entire outpost. Reinforcements were sent to the outpost Friday morning.  nepalnews.com br

Diarrhoea kills 28 in west Nepal

Kathmandu, June 15: An outbreak of diarrhoea has killed 28 persons in three west Nepal districts of Baitadi, Doti and Bhajang recently, health officials said. Five persons were killed in Baitadi, 13 in Doti and 10 in Bhajang as hundreds have been stricken by the disease outbreak common during the current monsoon season. Health teams have been sent to the area to treat the victims. nepalnews.com br

Kantipur editor released on bail                      

Kathmandu, June 15: A special three-man court Friday released  Editor Yubaraj Ghimere of the vernacular daily newspaper Kantipur on bail. He was arrested on June 6th, first on charges of sedition and then on state offence charge, newspaper sources said.The court also released from judicial custody Managing Director Kailash Sirohiya and Director Binod Gyawali on condition they present themselves before the court when ordered. The three-man court comprises of Mohan Shituala, Jagannath Pathak and Gyanendra Karki.He was released on on a bail of Rs.2000.

The government took exception to an article of underground Maoist leader Dr.Baburam Bhattarai published in the newspaper urging the army to revolt for a perceived plot by so-called imperialists and the successor of King Dipendra. nepalnews.com br

Details of commission news conference

Kathmandu, June 14:  King Birendra, Queen Aishwarya, Prince Nirajan, Princess Shanti, Princess Sharada, Princess Sharada, Princess Jayanti and Kumar Khadga Bikram Shah were declared dead on arrival at Birendra Military Hospital from 9.15 PM on June 1, an investigator said Thursday.
Princess Shruti, daughter of the King and Queen,died at 9.55 PM or 35 minutes after being rushed to the hospital, Speaker of the House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhatt told a news conference. Crown Prince Dipendra and his youngest uncle Dhirendra died three days later Monday.
Altogether 14 royal family members and relatives were killed or injured in the carnage.

Dipendra drove his grandmother Queen Mother Ratna to the carnage site before starting the shooting spree himself, the Speaker said. Dipendra had two neat shots of whisky, smoked marijuana and a "back substance' in a Sikhar cigarette before starting the killing spree; Prince Paras delivered the drugs to Dipendra. Dipendra had been on such drugs for several months,
Ranabhatt said quoting military aides to the deada Crown Prince. Dipendra talked to his second fling, Debyani Rana, over mobile phone several times before the carnage. Dipendra also talked to Supriya Shah, his childhood girlfriend Friday  morning, friends said. Dipendra and Debyani first
talked at 8.39 PM for 32 seconds over the mobile. "I am going to sleep. Good Night. Will meet tomorrow," Dipendra told Debyani in the last call. "We do not know the motive," the speaker said in reply to a question. Debyani alerted military aides of Dipendra of his drunken state over telephone, the Speaker said.   Devyani did not give details to the Commission for "personal reasons" but confirmed the Prince was stammering. The heir to the throne vomited in his bathroom before going down to the billiard room with his military fatigue to start the killing spree. "It is not our intention to pass judgement. We are just presenting eyewitness accounts," the Speaker said at a news conference conducted in Nepali and English.

Commission Chairman and Chief Justice Keshab Prasad Upadhaya kept silent throughout the proceedings. Altogether 83 officials took seven days to prepare the 200 page report. B blood group stains found on the clothes of Dipendra matched Queen Aishwarya's and Prince Nirajan's, Ranabhatt said. Altogether 24 royal family members and relatives were invited to the party held every third Friday of the month but aunt Princess Prekshya, uncle-in-law Kumar Mohan and another relative Princess Bimla were not present. Fresh reports said Gorakh SJB Rana, brother-in-law of the Crown Prince also escorted an intoxicated Dipendra to his bedroom including Prince Paras, and another brother-in-law Dr.Capt. Rajib Shahi.

Dipendra collected the weapons from the Royal Nepal Army and the Royal Palace armoury. There was no firing from a pistol owned by Prince Nirajan, bother of Dipendra, Ranabhatt said.  "All died on gunshot wounds," the Speaker said.  Dipendra shot his father in the billiard room and mother in front of a  flight of stairs leading to his living quarters. His body was lying on the back near a  bridge at a garden after shooting himself. The murder weapons were also recovered there.

At least three weapons, including a M-16  rifle capable of  firing 700 to 1000 bullets  a minute, were recovered from the carnage cite; they were all displayed at the news conference Thursday evening including Dipendra's outfit. nepalnews.com br

King delivers report to PM, told to make it Public

Kathmandu, June 14: King Gyanendra handed over a commission report on the carnage at the Royal Palace June 1 to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala at the Royal Palace Thursday and told him to make it public. Chief  Justice Keshab Prasad Upadhaya delivered the report to the King
Thursday in the presence of senior government officials. This footage was shown on Nepal Television. nepalnews.com br

Prakash Man Singh not to fight elections

Kathmandu, June 15: Prakash Man Singh, central committee member of the ruling Nepali Congress party , said he will  not seek re-election to the National Assembly to strengthen party unity. Singh said he was stepping aside in favour of "committed, faithful and honest cadre. The recent convention of the party also directed me to commit myself to organizational activities," Singh said. Singh's term ended last month. Elections for 20 seats of the upper chamber of parliament are being held June 27. UML, the main opposition in parliament, is expected to gain a majority in the Assembly following the vote. nepalnews.com br

Probe report to be submitted Thursday, news conference scheduled

Kathmandu, June 14: A powerful probe commission will submit its report of  the June 1 carnage at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace to King Gyanendra Thursday evening, an official announcement said. King Birendra, Queen Aishwarya  were among 14 royal family members and relatives killed or injured in the shoot-out. Three eyewitnesses said Crown Prince Dipendra committed suicide by  turning a gun on himself after starting the carnage. Altogether 10 persons were killed and four
others were injured  in the carnage.

Commission head Chief Justice Keshab Prasad Upadhaya and Speaker of the  House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhatt will later hold a news conference at  Singha Durbar to be broadcast live by Nepal Radio and Nepal Television at 7.15 PM  (13.30 GMT), Director General of  the state radio, Shailendra Raj Sharma said. Sharma said this at a briefing for journalists in the presence of Communications  Minister Shiva Raj Joshi. nepalnews.com br

King Dipendra's  katto ceremony held

Kathmandu, June 14: A 65-year-old  brahmin priest  rode an emblazoned elephant across  the Bagmati river to Jawalahkel after eating the "katto" of late King Dipendra on the 11th day of his death Thursday. Debi Prasad Acharya will stay overnight at the "Katto Ghar" or inn at Jawalakhel before being banished from Kathmandu Valley Friday, an official said.

Wearing a crown replica, clothes, ornaments and shoes worn by the late King, Acharya tasted 84 delicacies at Kalmochan Ghat where mourners were conducting Vedic Hindu rituals for the last 11
days. It is believed the body assumes spiritual form on the 11th day of death.

The 11th day rituals were also held for Dhirendra Shah, uncle of Dipendra, also killed in the shoot-out at the Narayanhiti Roya Palace on June 1; altogether 10 royal family members, including King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya, and relatives were killed and four others were injured in
the carnage. Eyewitnesses said Crown Prince Dipendra started the carnage and later committed suicide by turning a gun on himself.

A two member commission headed by Chief Justice Keshab Prasad Upadhaya is expected to submit a detailed report on the shoot-out to King Gyanendra later Thursday. In the past, brahmin priests ate pieces of flesh of dead kings; it was not known if the ritual was repeated Thursday. Acharya received offerings and priceless gifts during the ceremony. Prime Minister Girija Prasad
Koirala and other senior officials attended the ritual amid strict military and police security. Thursday was declared a national holiday. nepalnews.com br

Seven dead, five injured in truck mishap

Kathmandu, June 14: Seven persons died on the spot and five others were injured when a truck fell 300 metres down a highway into the Kaligandaki river in Gulmi district Wednesday, police said. One person is still missing. The truck was going to Butwal from Rudrabeni. The injured are being treated at Mission hospital in Palpa. nepalnews.com br

Diarrhoea kills 13 in Dang

kathmandu, June 14: An outbreak of diarrhoea has killed 13 persons in various villages in Dang district  district health officials said.The disease has broken out in Pipla, Dipalay, Tikha and adjoining villages. At least 255 persons have been treated in the disease outbreak
that started a fortnight ago. nepalnews.com br

High security in capital ahead of commission report submission

Kathmandu, June 13: Police stopped vehicles, conducted searches of motorcyclists and other individuals Wednesday night ahead of a submission of a report by a two member probe panel investigating the June 1 carnage at the Royal Palace killing 10 members of the royal family including King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya and injuring four other relatives. Police were stopping vehicles and conducting searches at important crossroad's in the city late into the night.

A commission headed by Chief Justice Kasha Prasad Upadhaya and consisting of Speaker of the House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhatt is to submit its detailed report to King Gyanendra Thursday on the firings that killed popular King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya. Some are skeptical whether the report will be made public on the 11th day of the suicide of Crown Prince Dipendra, considered inauspicious by Hindus; eyewitness accounts say Dipendra started the carnage.
Despite the eyewitness accounts, a surreal situation exists as some people genuinely do not want to believe that Crown Prince Dipendra started the killing spree culminating in his own suicide.

Maoists and a splinter communist group, the Smaukhya Jana Morcha, have claimed there is a conspiracy in the massacre although they have no love for the monarchy or alternate evidence to support their claim. It will take at least another 10 days for business to recover as the country reels from the impact of the tragedy, said a businessman. "There is backlog of almost 15 days to pick-up goods from the border. I paid a trucker Rs.10,00,000 yesterday, I cannot find any pick up goods today. There is so much of demand. Retailers are not coming forward to lift goods either ," said Samin Tuladhar, a motorcycle spare part wholesaler. "My Indian contractors have fled fearing for their lives after the curfew as I try to build a home on contract. Indians control the construction business," said Jeevan Tuladhar. Many said the phenomenon is temporary. The royal palace, government and the commision members will have problems trying to placate or convince trouble mongers and genuine skeptics on the results of the findings, whatever that may be.
nepalnews.com br

Court grants bail to six accused in Lauda Air deal

Kathmandu, June 13: The Lalitpur Appellate Court today granted bail to the six accused in the controversial Lauda Air deal. The joint bench of justice Bhupdhoj Adhikari and Buddikant Mainali granted bail to six persons upon the completion of their interrogation today. Those granted bail today are Hari Bhakta Shrestha, Tirtha Lal Shrestha, Siddha Raj Joshi, Gauri Nath Sharma, Pushkar Wagle and Upendra Prasad Upadhyaya. The bail amount varies from person to person. According to the court order, Hari Bhakta Shrestha and Tirtha Lal Shrestha are required to present Rs 40 million and Rs 35 million respectively, Gaurinath Sharma and Siddha Raj Joshi Rs 2.5 million each, while Pushkar Wagle and Upendra Prasad Upadhyaya are required to pay Rs 1.5 million each. The court has also issued an order to send the accused to jail if the six fail to present the bail money.

The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) had filed a lawsuit against ten
persons including former Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Tarini Dutta Chataut accusing them of
being involved in irregularities in the Boeing aircraft lease deal between Royal Nepal Airlines
Corporation and the Austrian Lauda Air for 18 months. Former Minister Tarini Dutta Chataut however
has not presented himself before the court. nepalnews.com/yl/at

King Birendra's 13th day goes off without pujas

Kathmandu, June 13: The 13th day of Hindu purification rituals following the assassinations of King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya were not held Wednesday as usual but will be conducted Saturday instead, officials said. Saturday marks the 13th day of the suicide of Crown Prince Dipendra.

Altogether 13 royal family members and relatives died in a shoot-out or were injured at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace on June 1 in one of the worst such tragedies in world history. Three eyewitnesses and relatives said Dipendra, who was later declared King, started the shoot-out and then turned the gun on himself; Dipendra never recovered from a coma and died three days later without being crowned.

A two man commission headed by Chief Justice Kesvab Prasad Upadhaya and Speaker of the House of Representatives Taranath Bhatt is preparing a report of the tragedy after interviewing key witnesses including surviving members of the royal members, doctors treating them and
others.

The commission has until Thursday to complete its investigations. The commission members have interviewed Supriya Shah and is trying to interview Devyani Rana, the other girlfriend of Dipendra, sources and published reports said; Devyani, the daughter of a prominent opposition politician, is not in the country. The interviews may help establish the motive for the shooting by a bachelor Prince. Prince Gyanendra, uncle of Dipendra, succeeded the throne for the second time in nearly 50 years. Government offices re-opened Tuesday after an 11 day closure bringing back some form of normalcy to the nation still traumatized by the events that unfolded at the royal palace on the first day on June.

Nepal's new King Gyanendra has a wide experience in Nepali affairs after working closely with his eldest brother, King Birendra, in administering the state during the panchayat era prior to 1990 and in grooming Dipendra during his childhood. nepalnews.com br

Kathmandu, June 11: A 75-year-old  brahmin priest  rode an emblazoned tusker  over the Bagmati river to Jawalahkel after eating the "katto" of late King Birendra  on the 11th day of his assassination Monday. Durga Prasad Sapkota will stay overnight at the "Katto Ghar" or inn at Jawalakhel before riding out of Kathmandu Valley Tuesday, a palace official said. Wearing a crown replica, clothes, ornaments and shoes worn by the late King, Sapkota took about nine minutes to taste 84 delicacies at Kalmochan Ghat where mourners were conducting Vedic Hindu rituals for the last 11 days. It is believed the  body assumes spiritual form on the 11th day of death. The 11th day rituals were also held for Queen Aishwarya and Prince Niranjat at the ghat Monday. King Dipendra's katto ceremony will be held Thursday at the same site. In the past, brahmin priests ate  pieces of flesh of dead kings; it was not known if the rutial was repeated Monday. Sapkota received offerings and gifts during the ceremony. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and other senior officials attended the ritual amid strict military and police security. nepalnews.com br

Deadline extended for signing condolence book

Kathmandu, June 11: The deadline for signing the condolence book at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace has been extended by another five days on popular demand until Friday, an official announcement said. "In view of the growing number of natives and foreigners wanting to sign the condolence books kept at the royal palace main gate praying for eternal peace of the departed souls of King Birendra, Queen Aishwarya, King Dipendra and Prince Nirajan, the time has been extended till June 15," an announcement said. More than 80,000 persons have already signed the books, a palace official said. Similar condolences books have also been kept at all 75 district headquarters. People are also offering flowers and praying before portraits of the royal family members placed at
street corners and crossings in the capital. The spontaneous outpourings of grief and the size of crowds flocking to the royal palace reflect the popularity of monarchy in general and King Birendra in particular. Although three eyewitnesses have said Crown Prince Dipendra started the killing spree killing or injuring 14 members of the royal family and relatives, some people are still skeptical. Monday marks the 11th day of assassination of King Birendra. The day will be marked by a ritual feeding of the dead king. nepalnews.com br