Kathmandu, June 6: The capital and neighbouring Lalitpur was normal Wednesday after two successive days of curfew to curb violent protests but police were ready to slap restrictions again if violence flared up. “The town is normal today. But we will slap another curfew if violence again
flares up,” police control room said over telephone.

People rushed to provision stores Wednesday morning to buy essentials as a 12 hour curfew was lifted Wednesday night; housewives reported grocery shortages whose prices had doubled. A maternal uncle of late King Dipendra said for the first time publicly Wednesday Nepal’s uncrowned and shortest living King started the Friday shoot-out at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace that killed or injured 14 members of the royal family and immediate relatives including King Birendra, Queen Aishwarya and King Dipendra; King Birendra’s entire family was wiped off as succession shifted to King Gyanendra, second brother of late King Birendra.

“Yes,” said maternal uncle  Suraj SJB Rana of Dipendra to a question by weekly newspaper Janaastha Wednesday whether the dead king started the shooting spree. “Yes. That is the fact. The fact will emerge in the next three days. It cannot be hidden,” Suraj said in reply to another question if the carnage followed a dispute over Divyani. Dipendra wanted to wed Divyani, daughter of RPP leader Pashupati SJB Rana, against the wishes of other members of the royal family.