Nepal’s government announced on Tuesday that it will reopen files related to the 2001 royal massacre in which the entire family of then King Birendra Shah was killed.Interior Minister Sudan Gurung made the announcement shortly after taking office.On June 1, 2001, the entire family of King Shah, including Queen Aishwarya, was murdered by then Crown Prince Dipendra at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace during a Friday dinner party.An official investigation committee said in its report that Dipendra, under the influence of alcohol, killed his father, mother, brother, sister and other family members before committing suicide. Many rejected the investigation committee’s report at the time.After returning to office, Gurung said that all previous investigation files related to the incident will be reopened as part of the renewed investigation.Gurung had resigned from the government after allegations of financial irregularities and accumulation of illegal assets. However, a government-appointed inquiry committee gave him a clean chit, paving the way for his reappointment.
