While no reference to the role of the royal palace security in the 1 June 2001 murder of the Nepalese royal family, including the names of those charged, wanted or suspected, could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate, the following information is relevant.

An official two-member committee led by Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyay and Speaker of the House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhat (The National Newsmagazine 22 -28 June 2001; Xinhua 15 June 2001) and established to inquire into the murders, concluded that the former Crown Prince Dipendra was responsible for the murder of 10 members of the Royal Family at the Narayanhity palace on 1 June 2001 (ibid.; The Tribune 15 June 2001; The National Newsmagazine 22-28 June 2001; Nepal Times 15 June 2001; Nepal Democracy n.d.; AP 3 July 2001). Dipendra, who reportedly shot himself following the murders, died days later in hospital (Dawn 4 July 2001; CNN 4 June 2001).

Various articles reported that four royal bodyguards had been fired in early July 2001 (AP 3 July 2001.; BBC 3 July 2001; Dawn 4 July 2001). Nepal's Defence Secretary was reported to have stated that the four were fired "'for negligence of their duty at the time of the massacre'" (ibid.). Those fired were said to be Colonel Sundar Pratap Rana, Major Ananta Keshar Simha, Raju Karki and Gajendra Bohara (BBC 3 July 2001).

Although a BBC article stated that it was not clear why the four guards were found to be negligent (ibid.), other articles indicate that it was in some manner related to their awareness of Dipendra's drug habits (Dawn 4 July 2001; AP 3 July 2001). Rather than reporting this knowledge to anyone, the guards had instead helped Dipendra obtain the drugs (AP 3 July 2001). The report prepared by the Commission found that, on the day of the palace massacre, Dipendra had ordered his aide, Gajendra Bohara, to bring him cigarettes ( cigarettes that were reportedly laced with a "mixture of hashish and another unnamed black substance" (The National Newsmagazine 22-28 June 2001; Nepal Democracy n.d.).

Another source of controversy regarding security lapses at the palace the night of the killings surrounded the fact that Dipendra was reportedly able to break palace rules and keep automatic weapons with him and then walk uncontested into a family dinner with the weapons clearly visible on his person (The National Newsmagazine 22-28 June 2001).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Associated Press (AP) Worldstream. 3 July 2001. " Royal Bodyguards Fired Over Nepal Royal Massacre." (NEXIS)

BBC News. 3 July 2001. "Nepal Palace Officials Sacked." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1419878.stm [Accessed 25 Feb. 2003]

CNN. 4 June 2001. "Nepal Names Second King in Three Days." http://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/asiapcf/south/06/04/nepal.shooting/ [Accessed 25 Feb. 2003]

Dawn [Karachi]. 4 July 2001. "Gyanendra Dismisses Birendra's Bodyguards." http://www.dawn.com/2001/07/04/int8.htm [Accessed 25 Feb. 2003]

The National Newsmagazine [Kathmandu]. 22-28 June 2001. Vol. 20, No. 49. Bhagirath Yogi. "Royal Palace Killings: Loose Ends." http://www.nepalnews.com.np/contents/englishweekly/spotlight/2001/jun/jun22/coverstory.htm [Accessed 25 Feb. 2003]

Nepal Democracy [Kathmandu]. n.d. "Synopsis of the High Level Committee Report on the Royal Palace Incident." (Unofficial translation). http://www.nepaldemocracy.org/royalmassacre_report.html [Accessed 25 Feb. 2003]

The Nepal Times [Kathmandu]. 15 June 2001. Kiran Nepal. "It Was Dipendra. Probe Team Finds Smoking Gun." http://www.nepalnews.com.np/ntimes/june6-2001/june15-2001.htm [Accessed 25 Feb. 2003]

The Tribune [Chandigarh]. 15 June 2001. Tripti Nath. "Dipendra Was Killer, Says Probe Report: Tension in Kathmandu." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2001/20010615/main1.htm [Accessed 25 Feb. 2003]

Xinhua News Agency. 15 June 2001. "Nepali Crown Prince Kills Royal Family Members: Probe Report." (NEXIS)

IRB databases

NEXIS

Internet sites, including:

BBC

CNN

Dawn

The Himalayan Times

Kathmandu Post

Nepal News

World News Connection

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