Synopsis
of the High Level Committee Report on the Royal Palace Incident
(Unofficial
translation)
as published by Newslook.com
In the course of collecting facts about
the incident that transpired at Narayanhity Royal Palace the night of
June l, 200l, this high level committee carried out an observation of
the site of the incident, collected physical items and materials and
subjected these to scientific tests, and interrogated eye witnesses,
those affected by the incident, and royal guards as well as
individuals involved in the relief work and doctors involved in
the treatment. Besides this, inquiries were made with individuals where
this was thought necessary on the basis of facts that came to
light from people with whom inquiries were made in the course of
the investigations, and necessary records and documents were sent
for from places concerned. From investigations made on that basis the
following facts have emerged:-
l.
In keeping with the tradition of regular family gatherings held at
Narayanhity Royal Palace on the third Friday of every month, such a
gathering was organised on Friday June l, 200l also. His Majesty King
Birenda Bir Bikram Shah Dev, Her Majesty Queen Aishwarya Rajya Laxmi
Devi Shah, Her Majesty Queen Mother Ratna Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah, His
Royal Highness Crown Prince Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah and His Royal
Highness Prince Nirajan Bir Bikram Shah were present at the gathering
held at the Tribhvan Sadan of Narayanhity Royal Palace as were all the
24 invitees including other members of the royal family and royal
relatives, except Her Royal Highness Princess Prekchhya Rajya Laxmi Devi
Shah, Kumar Sri Mohan Bahadur Shahi and Raj Kumari Bimala Singh,
according to a letter of the principal secretariat of His Majesty the
King dated June 8, 200l. The names of the invited guests are given in
appendix …..
2.
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev (hereafter
HRH the Crown Prince) arrived first at the venue of the gathering at
Tribhuvan Sadan at 7.30 pm, it is confirmed by royal ADC Gajenda Bohara
and waiters. Thereafter, the other invitees arrived one after another by
8 pm, it is apparent. At 8 pm, HRH the Crown Prince proceeded to
Mahendra-Manzil by his car and conveyed Her Majesty the Queen Mother,
with himself at the wheel, to Tribhuvan Sadan, the venue of the
gathering, it is also apparent. Her Majesty the Queen Mother then
remained with Her Royal Highnesss Princess Helen Shaha in the small
chamber known as Sano Baithak to the east of the billiard hall. After
the royal family members and royal relatives arrived, His Majesty King
Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev (hereafter HM the King) finally arrived
directly at Tribhuvan Sadan on foot from his office around 8.30 pm, had
a darshan of Her Majesty the Queen Mother and after some
pleasantries proceeded towards the billiard room, it has come to light
from eye witnesses to the sequence of events.
3.
HRH the Crown Prince at 7.30 pm, played billiards by himself for some
time at the billiard room at Tribhuvan Sadan and in the
course of that drank one or two pegs of Famous Grouse whisky neat,
according to HRH the Crown Prince's ADC Gajendra Bohara and royal
relatives Maheshwar Singh and Rabi Shumsher J.B.R.. A little before HM
the King arrived at the Tribhuvan Sadan (some l0-l2 minutes before),
four individuals including HRH Prince Nirajan, HRH Prince Paras, Kumar
Gorakh and Dr Rajeev saw HRH the Crown Prince swaying, unable to hold
himself upright, and wondering if it was not the effect of the whisky,
they took HRH the Crown Prince to his bed chamber inside Tribhuvan
Sadan, it is learnt from eye witnesses.
4.
While in the billiard room HRH the Crown Prince had ordered his
ADC Gajendra Bohara by mobile phone at 8.l9 pm to fetch cigarettes
and Gajendra Bohara, as ordered, brought a special kind of cigarette
prepared with a mixture of hashish and another unnamed black substance
as per an order to royal orderly Ram Krishan KC, and proceeded to the
east door of the billiard hall and entrusted them to HRH Prince
Paras, according to the said Ram Krishna. HRH the Crown Prince himself
made arrangements for the hashish and the black substance, it was not
known from where it could have come, and since about a year ago he had
been making such cigarettes, orderly of HRH the Crown Prince Ram Krishna
KC said before the committee. Orderly Ram Krishna KC's version has been
corroborated by royal ADCs to HRH the Crown Prince Gajendra
Bohara and Raju Karki who said before the committee that HRH the
Crown Prince used to smoke such cigarettes.
5.
According to particulars received from the telecommunications
corporation, it is learnt from the documentation there that HRH the
Crown Prince talked to Debyani Rana for one minute l4 seconds
on his mobile no. 98l02l5l3 at 8.l2 pm on June l, 200l
through mobile no. 98l024339 of Usha Rana, and the second time
Debyani Rana talked to HRH the Crown Prince for 4 minutes l4 seconds
on mobile no. 98l02l5l3l from mobile no. 0l42305l at 9.l9 pm. Finally,
at 8.39 HRH the Crown Prince talked to Debyabni Rana for 32
seconds on his mobile no. 98l02l5l3 through mobile no.
98l024339, according to the same particulars. HRH the Crown Prince had
close ties with Miss Debyani Rana of Maharajgunj, according to royal
ADCs Gajendra Bohara and Raju Karki as well as Supriya Shaha, a
friend of HRH the Crown Prince. Debyani's mother and father themselves
pointed out in the course of inquiries before the committee that there
was contact between HRH the Crown Prince and Debyani Rana. That there
was a close relationship between HRH the Crown Prince and herself was
confirmed by Devyani Rana herself (in a tape recording of her voice)
when questioned by Royal Nepalese Ambassador to India Dr Bhekh Bahadur
Thapa as empowered by the committee.
6.
Miss Debyani Rana said as matters concerning HRH the Crown Prince were
her personal affair she did not want to say anything about them and that
at 8.25 pm when the exchanges were taking place with HRH the Crown
Prince his speech sounded slurred so further exchange could not
take place, adding that "the voice of HRH the Crown Prince was
somewhat slurred, is he somewhat unwell? She wondered and phoned HRH the
Crown Prince's ADC Gajendra Bohara at his office and Raju Karki at
his home urging them to go have a look at the bed chamber".
7.
After Miss Debyani Rana phoned ADC gajenda bohara and Raju Karki passed
the message to Gajendra Boraha by phone, Ramkrishna KC, orderly to
HRH the Crown Prince, and dware ama Jamuna Adhikari, as ordered by
Bohara, reached the bed chamber of HRH the Crown Prince whereupon
they found HRH the Crown Prince prone on the ground and trying to
undo the clothing on the upper part of his body. They helped take off
the clothing and after that HRH the Crown Prince proceeded to the
bathroom. Jamuna Adhikari also herd retching noises coming
from the bathroom and after coming out of the bathroom HRH the Crown
Prince ordered them both to go to their respective rooms to sleep,
according to the dware ama and orderly Ramkrishna KC.
8.
At 8.39 in the evening HRH the Crown Prince talked on his mobile
phone no. 98l02l5l3 to Miss Debyani Rana on mobile no 98l024339
for 32 seconds as evident from records at the telecommunications
corporation and this has been conceded by Miss Rana adding that
HRH the Crown Prince had said "I am now about to sleep",
"good night, we'll talk tomorrow".
9.
After the phone contact with Miss Debyani Rana, HRH the Crown Prince put
on army combat dress and came out of the bed chamber with weapons where
he was seen by HRH Crown Prince's orderly Ramkrishna who thought
the Crown Prince was about to go out and said "shall the emergency
bag be brought sire", whereupon HRH the Crown Prince replied
"it's not necessary now", according to orderly Ramkrishna.
l0.
HRH the Crown Prince in combat fatigues and armed on both
sides with rifle and revolver proceeded towards the billiard hall,
according to 'boys' Bachuram KC who saw HRH the Crown Prince from the
eastern room of the dining hall adjoining the billiard hall.
ll.
HRH the Crown Prince in combat fatigues entered the billiard hall and
fired at the ceiling and west wall with a 9 mm Caliber MP-5K automatic
sub-machine gun and then fired rat-tat-tat at His Majesty the King who
was then standing near the east end of the billiard table talking
to others. All the while HRH the Crown Prince moved back and came
out of the billiard room, threw the l2 bore SPAS l2-L FRENCH SPA gun
near the stairs to the north of the inner garden edge east of the
hall, then entered the billiard room again aiming the 5.56
caliber Colt M-l6 A2 rifle with light and telescope and fired
rat-tat-tat again at His Majesty the King, Kumar Gorakh Shumsher
Rana, Sri Dhirendra Shah and Kumar Khadga Bikram Shah, then moved back
to reach the door, and again advanced to fire
indiscriminately a third time hitting HRH Princess Shruti
Rajya Laxmi Devi Rana, HRH Princess Sharada Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah, HRH
Princess Shanti Rajya Laxmi Rana and HRH Princess Jayanti Shah as well
as others. HRH the Crown Prince moved back out of the billiard hall and
to the east towards the inner garden, according to HRH Princess Shova,
HRH Prince Paras, Kumar Gorakh, Ketaki Chestar, Rabi Shumsher, Dr Rajeev
Shahi and Maheshwar Kumar Singh who were present at the site.
l2.
As HRH the Crown Prince moved back towards the inner garden to the
east after firing indiscriminately at the billiard hall a third time, a
female figure in red sari was seen giving chase in that direction, as
seen by 'boys' Santa Bahadur Khadka among others from the dinning
room to the north adjoining the billiard hall, Khadka said. HRH Prince
Nirajan followed Her Majesty Queen Aishwarya Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah
(hereafter Her Majesty the Queen) via the pathway from the billiard room
towards the inner garden to the east to a small convergence point
between the pathway from the garden to the bed chamber in Tribhuvan
Sadan and the pathway to the shed to the east, according to Mrs
Ketaki Chestar among others, and shots were fired from north to south
after crossing a ladder there and while standing at the small
meadow, going by observation of the site including the state of the
empty cartridge shells and bullet marks on the wall to the
south. HRH Prince Nirajan was found laying prone in an
unconscious state with the head to the east and Major Bishnu
Khadka and others carried HRH the Prince and brought him outside,
put him in a car and took him to hospital, according to Major
Bishnu Khadka among others.
13.
According to royal ADCs, after the firing at the billiard hall the royal
ADCs sitting in the inner room of the ADC office on the right hand side
of the main gate of Tribhuvan Sadan heard the sound of firing and the
alarm "call the doctors soon..." and entered the billiard hall
by breaking the glass of the door , which is to the south of the hall
and always remains closed, to immediately start rescue work from the
hall. Royal ADC Colonel Sundar Pratap Rana, among others, entered the
hall, carried His Majesty the King, who was unconscious, out to the car
and drove to the military hospital, Chhauni, the ADCs said.
14.
It was seen during the observation of the site of the incident that
brain tissues, a few teeth and jaws, red tika, two ear pins, broken
pieces of red glass bangles and blood stains were scattered here and
there at the place where Her Majesty the Queen was said to have been
lying after indiscriminate firing at Her Majesty at the upper part
(seventh) step of the inner staircase leading to the bed chamber of His
Royal Highness the Crown Prince, which can be reached after crossing a
bridge over a pond, turning to the north and passing through the main
gate that leads to the bed chamber upstairs.
15.
Major Bishnu Khadka and the royal ADCs, who was involved in the rescue
work, also told the committee that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince
was found lying on his back and gurgling to the south of the small
bridge over the little pond at the garden in front of Tribhuvan Sadan
where the bed chamber of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is
situated. During the observation of the site of the incident, a 9mm.
caliber Glock Ges. pistol, which His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was
said to be in possession of, and empty cartridges discharged from the
pistol were found in the water of the pond in the eastern side. Also
during the observation a 5.56 caliber M-16 A2 rifle was found on a small
lawn to the south of the same place.
16.
After the incident at the above mentioned billiard hall, and at the
garden to the east of the hall and the staircase leading to the bed
chamber, Royal ADCs and other security personnel rushed the victims to
Shree Birendra Military Hospital, Chhauni. The committee has received
the following information regarding the time they reached the hospital
and their condition at that time:-
(a)
His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev was pronounced dead upon
arrival at Birendra Military Hospital at 9:15 in the evening.
(b)
Her Majesty Queen Aishwarya Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah was pronounced dead
upon arrival at Birendra Military Hospital at 9:15 in the evening
(c)
His Royal Highness Prince Nirajan Bir Bikram Shah was pronounced dead
upon arrival at Birendra Military Hospital at 9:15 in the evening.
(d)
Her Royal Highness Princess Sruti Rajya Laxmi Devi Rana, who reached
Birendra Military Hospital at 9:20 in the evening, was pronounced dead
at the hospital at 9:55 the same evening.
(e)
Her Royal Highness Princess Shanti Rajya Laxmi Devi Singh was pronounced
dead upon arrival at Birendra Military Hospital at 9:30 in the evening.
(f)
Her Royal Highness Princess Sharada Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah was pronounced
dead upon arrival at Birendra Military Hospital at 9:30 in the evening.
(g)
Her Royal Highness Princess Jayanti Rajya Laxmi Shah was pronounced dead
upon arrival at Birendra Military Hospital at 9:30 in the evening.
(h)
Kumar Khadga Bikram Shah was pronounced dead upon arrival at Birendra
Military Hospital at 9:35 in the evening.
(i)
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, who
reached Birendra Military Hospital at 9:24 P.M. on June 1, 2001, was
pronounced dead at 3:45 A.M. at the hospital on June 4, 2001.
(j)
Mr. Dhirendra shah, who reached Birendra Military Hospital at 9:24 P.M.
on June 1, 2001, was pronounced dead at 5:57 P.M. at the hospital on
June 4, 2001.
17.
No information regarding the death of anyone in the incident other than
the 10 (ten) mentioned above has been received.
18.
Reports from the hospital confirm that Her Majesty Queen Komal Rajya
Laxmi Devi Shah, Her Royal Highness Princess Shobha Rajya Laxmi Shahi,
Kumar Gorakh Shumsher J. B. Rana and Mrs. Ketaki Chestar, all victims of
the incident, have sustained serious injuries.
19.
According to a letter dated June 10, 2001 received from Birendra
Military Hospital, Chhauni, when His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was
taken to the hospital immediately after the incident, HRH the Crown
Prince was wearing black army boots, a camouflage (combat) army jacket
and trousers, black leather gloves, black stockings and a camouflage
vest. The committee took possession of the clothing, gloves and boots
for inspection and after a laboratory test on the blood stains and some
yellowish substances on them experts concerned concluded that the stains
were of blood group "B". Among the deceased, Her Majesty the
Queen and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also have been found to
have blood group "B".
20.
The committee has also received a letter from the hospital, which states
that upon arrival at the hospital His Royal Highness the Crown Prince
was wearing gloves and the gloves have been handed in to the committee.
No gloves other than the single pair (of gloves) in question have been
found at the site of the incident and the hospital.
21.
(a)
Forty-seven (47) cartridge cases fired from a 5.56 caliber colt m-16 A2
with weapon number A0073943 (commando) automatic rifle have been
recovered. It has been learnt from experts concerned that the rifle can
fire 700 to 1,000 bullets per minute.
(b)
Experts concerned are of the opinion that the 29 cartridge cases found
at the site of the incident were fired from a 9mm. caliber MP-5 K
automatic sub-machine gun, which can fire up to 900 bullets per minute.
(c)
It has been learnt from experts concerned that the two (2) cartridge
cases found at the site of the incident were fired from a 9mm. caliber
MP-5 K automatic Ges.m.b.H pistol. The cartridges were found in the pond
near the small bridge where His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is said
to have been found lying injured by rescuers.
(d)
Captain Madhav Bhandari told the committee at its office that the M-16
gun with no. A0073943 mentioned in chapter (a) was issued as per the
demand made by the Royal Guard Military Police, the Royal Palace on
056/5/31 Bikram Era and handed in to the Royal Palace armory (kotkhana)
after acquiring it from the Royal Nepalese Army arsenal. In course of
his interrogation, ADC to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Gajendra
Bohara mentioned that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince carried this
weapon when he went on trekking, and there was a practice of His Royal
Highness the Crown Prince taking weapons directly from the Royal Palace
armory (kotkhana) whenever His Royal Highness the Crown Prince so
wished.
(e)
It has also been found that one pistol and a 9mm. caliber gun were
issued as per the demand from the Royal ADC office, the Royal Palace on
2053/1/27 Bikram Era and 2056/7/28 Bikram Era. According to ADC to His
Royal Highness the Crown Prince Gajendra Bohara, the weapons were in HRH
the Crown Prince's possession.
(f)
Details received from the Royal Palace show that the 9mm. G19 Glock
pistol with no. YY 334 was also issued from the arsenal to hand it in to
His Royal Highness Prince Nirajan.
(g)
Neither the opinions of experts concerned nor the cartridges recovered
confirmed that the 9mm. caliber Glock pistol found at the billiard hall
and the 12 bore single barrel shot gun recovered from a corner
south-west of the lawn were fired during the incident.
22.
No entrance to the site of the incident other than the main gate which
houses the ADC office inside Tribhuvan Sadan at the Narayanhity Royal
Palace and a small closed gate in the eastern part were found during the
observation of the site of the incident. A sketch of the site of the
incident is in annex..... to this report.
23.
That bullet injuries were the cause of death of all killed in the
incident, which took place at the Narayanhity Royal Palace on June 1,
2001, has been substantiated also by the opinion of the physicians
concerned of Birendra Military Hospital, Chhauni. Also the injured said
in course of interrogations that they sustained the injuries from gun
shots. Information received from Birendra Military Hospital also
revealed that gun shots were the cause of the injuries sustained by
victims of the incident currently at the hospital.
Press
release
As
part of the process of making public the factual details about the
tragic incident that took place during a family gathering at the
Narayanhity Royal Palace on the night of June 1, 200l, His Majesty King
Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev announced the formation of a high level
committee with Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya as Chairman and
Speaker of Parliament Taranath Rana Bhat and opposition leader in
the House of Representatives Madhav Kumar Nepal as members on June 4,
2001, requiring the committee to submit its report in three days.
The resignation submitted to His Majesty the King on June 6, 2001 by
member of the committee Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal through its Chairman
citing his party's decision not to work on the high level committee and
pledging at the same time his party's and his own full cooperation in
the process of investigation.
The Principal Secretariat of His Majesty the King issued a communique on
June 6, 2001establishing the following terms of reference for the
committee:
(1)
To submit to His Majesty the King a report along with the factual
details about the incident that took place at the Royal Palace on June
1, 2001.
(2)
The committee will have the following powers:
(a)
To observe the site of the incident and collect necessary details along
with photographs.
(b)
Acquire information from family members and other individuals present at
the gathering at the site of incident, individuals providing security
and other services at the Royal Palace, doctors and nurses involved in
the treatment and other individuals whom the committee deems essential
to interview.
(c)
To collect and examine the weapons, bullets and other objects concerned
with the incident and acquire reports on the test and examinations
conducted by the hospital in connection with the incident.
(d)
To take necessary help from experts concerned regarding the incident.
(e)
To seek the assistance of individuals concerned in connection with the
execution of the committee's duties.
(3)
The tenure of office of the committee will be three days starting from
the date of initiating its work.
(4)
The office of the committee will be set up at a place specified by the
Chairman.
(5)
The committee will specify its other procedures on its own.
The
same communique confirmed the acceptance of the resignation submitted by
member of the committee and opposition leader in the House of
Representatives Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal.
As
stated in the communique issued by the Principal Secretariat of His
Majesty the King on June 6, 2001, the office of the committee was set up
at the parliament building on parliament premises as specified by
the Chairman of the committee. The committee started its work from June
8, 2001.
Information
and data were collected in course of gathering factual details about the
incident in line with the royal proclamation of His Majesty the King
while remaining within the framework of the terms of reference specified
in the communique issued by the Principal Secretariat of His Majesty the
King. The committee's modus operandi was worked out in line with the
communique which had authorized the committee to specify its own working
procedure. Basically the following methodology was adopted for
collection of factual details about the incident:
(a)
Interrogation of the victims of the incident and Royal Family members
present at the site of the incident, royal relatives, and security
guards, chefs, attendants, Royal Palace service office bearers,
individuals engaged in rescue work, physicians and nurses involved in
medical treatment and other individuals who seem to be associated with
the incident.
(b)
Study of notices and data received from the Principal Secretariat of His
Majesty the King and Birendra Military Hospital, and records and
documents relating to the medical treatment.
(c)
Collection of guns, bullets, cartridges, blood, brain tissue,
fingerprints and clothing found at the site of the incident, and study
of scientific and chemical test reports by the experts concerned.
(d)
Consultations with experts concerned, narcotic drug experts and
psychologists on the opinions given by experts about the guns, bullets,
blood, brain tissue and finger prints, and on technical matters stated
in documents relating to medical treatment collected in course of the
investigation.
As
it took some more time to complete laboratory tests on various physical
substances recovered from the site of the incident in course of
submitting a report after following the above methodology and the report
could not be completed within the specified time, His Majesty the King
extended the tenure of office of the committee by four days starting
from June 11, 2001 as per the request of the committee. |
