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Kathmandu Wednesday June 13, 2001 Jestha 31, 2058.
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Probe
panel report unlikely to go public before Monday
By Utpal Raj Misra
KATHMANDU, June 12 - The high level probe committee report
that is expected to be submitted to His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev on
Thursday is unlikely to be made public till next Monday.
According to high level government sources, the report,
contrary to the public expectations, could be made public only on Monday.
"Most probably the report is not going to be made
public before the ceremony marking the 13th day rituals of His Late Majesty King
Birendra," said a government official. "Since the 13th day ceremony falls on
Saturday and Sunday is a public holiday it is likely that the report will be made public
only on Monday."
Meanwhile, according to another highly placed source, the
committee in an effort to give final touch to its report is inquiring people whom late
King Dipendra talked to over his mobile phone before the incident.
The committee is trying to gather information from the last
10 people with whom the late King had conversation before the incident, said the source.
The contact addresses of these 10 people were obtained from the memory chip of the late
King’s mobile phone.
Another source has confirmed that the investigation
committee on Monday sent a letter to Pashupati Shumshere Rana, a leader of the Rastriya
Prajatantra Party and a lawmaker, requesting him to present his daughter, Devyani Rana,
before the committee for inquiry. Miss Rana, was one of the 10 people with whom late King
Dipendra had conversation before the incident.
Devyani Rana, according to unverified reports, flew to New
Delhi and then to Moscow after her name was dragged by media into the controversy over the
June 1 Royal carnage. Lawmaker Rana could not be reached for comments when contacted.
There were also unverified reports that the Nepali Embassy
in New Delhi had been requested by the committee to inquire about Devyani’s
whereabouts and send her back to the country for inquiry. The Deputy Chief of Mission at
the Royal Nepalese Embassy in New Delhi, Madan Kumar Bhattarai, however, expressed
ignorance about such request. While the Nepali Ambassador to New Delhi, Bhek Bahadur Thapa
could not be contacted.
The two-member committee comprising Cheif Justice Keshab
Prasad Upadhyay and Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament Taranath Ranabhat on Monday
reportedly sought information from Supriya Shah, who was also supposed to be close to late
King Dipendra.
The committee is investigating the Royal massacre that
claimed the lives of King Birendra and nine other Royalties and Royal relatives.
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