Rending

The Nepalese royal massacre (also called Durbar Hatyakanda, दरबार हत्याकाण्ड) was a mass shooting which occurred on 1 June 2001 (19 Jestha 2058 Nepal B.S.) at the Narayanhiti Palace, the then-residence of the Nepali monarchy, resulting in the deaths of nine members of the royal family, including King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya. A government-appointed inquiry team named Crown Prince Dipendra as the perpetrator of the massacre. Dipendra was declared king following the death of his parents but was comatose after shooting himself at the scene; he died in a hospital three days later without regaining consciousness. He was succeeded by Gyanendra, his paternal uncle and Birendra's younger brother.