Details of commission news conference

June 14, 2001
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Kathmandu, June 14:  King Birendra, Queen Aishwarya, Prince Nirajan, Princess Shanti, Princess Sharada, Princess Sharada, Princess Jayanti and Kumar Khadga Bikram Shah were declared dead on arrival at Birendra Military Hospital from 9.15 PM on June 1, an investigator said Thursday.
Princess Shruti, daughter of the King and Queen,died at 9.55 PM or 35 minutes after being rushed to the hospital, Speaker of the House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhatt told a news conference.

Crown Prince Dipendra and his youngest uncle Dhirendra died three days later Monday.
Altogether 14 royal family members and relatives were killed or injured in the carnage.

Dipendra drove his grandmother Queen Mother Ratna to the carnage site before starting the shooting spree himself, the Speaker said. Dipendra had two neat shots of whisky, smoked marijuana and a “back substance’ in a Sikhar cigarette before starting the killing spree; Prince Paras delivered the drugs to Dipendra.

Dipendra had been on such drugs for several months,
Ranabhatt said quoting military aides to the deada Crown Prince. Dipendra talked to his second fling, Debyani Rana, over mobile phone several times before the carnage. Dipendra also talked to Supriya Shah, his childhood girlfriend Friday morning, friends said. Dipendra and Debyani first
talked at 8.39 PM for 32 seconds over the mobile.

“I am going to sleep. Good Night. Will meet tomorrow,” Dipendra told Debyani in the last call. “We do not know the motive,” the speaker said in reply to a question. Debyani alerted military aides of Dipendra of his drunken state over telephone, the Speaker said.   Devyani did not give details to the Commission for “personal reasons” but confirmed the Prince was stammering.

The heir to the throne vomited in his bathroom before going down to the billiard room with his military fatigue to start the killing spree. “It is not our intention to pass judgement. We are just presenting eyewitness accounts,” the Speaker said at a news conference conducted in Nepali and English.

Commission Chairman and Chief Justice Keshab Prasad Upadhaya kept silent throughout the proceedings. Altogether 83 officials took seven days to prepare the 200 page report. B blood group stains found on the clothes of Dipendra matched Queen Aishwarya’s and Prince Nirajan’s, Ranabhatt said.

Altogether 24 royal family members and relatives were invited to the party held every third Friday of the month but aunt Princess Prekshya, uncle-in-law Kumar Mohan and another relative Princess Bimla were not present. Fresh reports said Gorakh SJB Rana, brother-in-law of the Crown Prince also escorted an intoxicated Dipendra to his bedroom including Prince Paras, and another brother-in-law Dr.Capt. Rajib Shahi.

Dipendra collected the weapons from the Royal Nepal Army and the Royal Palace armoury. There was no firing from a pistol owned by Prince Nirajan, bother of Dipendra, Ranabhatt said.  “All died on gunshot wounds,” the Speaker said.

Dipendra shot his father in the billiard room and mother in front of a  flight of stairs leading to his living quarters. His body was lying on the back near a  bridge at a garden after shooting himself. The murder weapons were also recovered there.

At least three weapons, including a M-16  rifle capable of  firing 700 to 1000 bullets  a minute, were recovered from the carnage cite; they were all displayed at the news conference Thursday evening including Dipendra’s outfit.