Royal Palace Massacre: A Conspiracy or Tragedy?

On the night of Friday, Jestha 19, 2058 BS, a shooting incident occurred inside the Narayanhiti Royal Palace, resulting in the annihilation of King Birendra's dynasty. Although it is said that Crown Prince Dipendra Shah killed his parents and siblings and then committed suicide, there are also those among the general public who interpret this incident as a conspiracy. 

Every third Friday night, a family gathering and feast used to be held in the Tribhuvan Sadan inside the palace. It is said that during that feast, then Crown Prince Dipendra, wearing a military uniform, fired two guns and killed the royal family. King Birendra, Queen Aishwarya, Crown Prince Dipendra, Prince Nirajan, Princess Shruti, Shanti Rajya Lakshmi Singh, Sharda Rajya Lakshmi Shah, Shahjadi Jayanti Rajya Lakshmi Shah, Kumar Khadga Bikram Shah, and Dhirendra Shah died in the shooting.

Komal Shah, Shobha Shahi, Kumar Gorakhshamsher, and Ketaki Chester were injured in the incident. The royal palace massacre remains shrouded in mystery even after 25 years. Although the high-level investigation committee, which included Supreme Court Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyay and Speaker Taranath Ranabhat at the time, held Crown Prince Dipendra responsible, the general public has not believed it. 

We have presented some evidence and investigation-related pictures found inside the palace at that time here –

1. Blood-stained cap and glasses. This cap is estimated to be King Birendra's.

2. The venue where the Friday feast was taking place.

3. The bar inside the palace.

4. Military uniform found at the scene.

5. Slipper and weapon left behind in the stampede.

6. Slipper left behind in the stampede

7. Weapon found at the scene.

8. Weapon found at the scene.

9. Blood-stained cap and glasses found at the scene.

10. Blood-stained cap found at the scene

11. Glasses fallen at the blood-stained spot

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12. Gun bullet.

13. Paras Shah giving statement to the investigation committee.

14. Then Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala giving statement to the investigation committee.

15. Billiard hall, where Paras and Dipendra played billiards before the incident.  
 

Photos courtesy: Shree Prasad Pandit