Dipendra of Nepal - Motive For Murder

Motive For Murder

Official reports state that Dipendra assassinated family members because of anger over a marriage dispute. Dipendra's choice of a bride was Devyani Rana, daughter of Pashupati SJB Rana a member of the Rana clan, against whom the Shah family of kings have a historic animosity. In recent times, though, Shah kings and princes have married almost exclusively members of the Rana family. The Rana clan had served as the hereditary prime ministers of Nepal until 1951 under the title 'Maharaja', and the two clans have a long history of inter-marriages.

Dipendra's uncle, Prince Gyanendra, is often accused of arranging the murder of all the competitors to the throne. He quickly issued an official statement claiming that the massacre had been the result of an automatic weapon accidentally misfiring. Gyanendra then appointed 2 men to investigate the massacre. According to this official account, Dipendra was denied his choice of a wife by his mother Aiswarya, and so he massacred his family in a much-publicised incident after indulging in a drinking binge. Among the dead were his father King Birendra, mother, brother, and sister. Dipendra survived comatose for three days, and was proclaimed King in his hospital bed. He died of his injuries on 4 June and was succeeded by Prince Gyanendra.

Read more about this topic:  Dipendra Of Nepal

Famous quotes containing the words motive for, motive and/or murder:

    If, in looking at the lives of princes, courtiers, men of rank and fashion, we must perforce depict them as idle, profligate, and criminal, we must make allowances for the rich men’s failings, and recollect that we, too, were very likely indolent and voluptuous, had we no motive for work, a mortal’s natural taste for pleasure, and the daily temptation of a large income. What could a great peer, with a great castle and park, and a great fortune, do but be splendid and idle?
    William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863)

    In using the strong hand, as now compelled to do, the government has a difficult duty to perform. At the very best, it will by turns do both too little and too much. It can properly have no motive of revenge, no purpose to punish merely for punishment’s sake. While we must, by all available means, prevent the overthrow of the government, we should avoid planting and cultivating too many thorns in the bosom of society.
    Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865)

    I cannot beat off
    Invincible modes of the sea, hearing:
    Be a man my son by God.
    He turned again
    To the purring jet yellowing the murder story,
    Deaf to the pathos circling in the air.
    Allen Tate (1899–1979)