http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/839633.cms Nepal's Crown Princess killed: Rumours
IANS [ SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 05, 2004 11:22:44 AM ]
KATHMANDU: As Kathmandu remained curfew-bound following violence sparked by the killing of 12 Nepalese in Iraq, a black, mischievous rumour gripped the city - that Nepal's Crown Princess had been killed in a shootout.
The gossip, possibly intentionally spread, spread like wildfire, aided by the telephone, e-mail and chat sites on the Internet.
By Saturday, the wildest rumours had percolated everywhere, from diplomatic circles to shopkeepers and house maids.
One account said that Crown Princess Himani, the daughter of Rao Raja Vikram Singh of Sikar in Rajasthan, had been shot in a dispute on Wednesday, either at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace or Nirmal Niwas, the official residence of Crown Prince Paras and his family in Kathmandu.
Purportedly quoting sources in the palace and the army, gossip mongers went on to embroider how a spate of doctors had been seen rushing in and out of the palace and how the 28-year-old had finally been taken to the army hospital here where she breathed her last.
While some rumours said the Crown Prince had shot her, others said he too had been injured.
The vicious rumours were probably fed by sensation seekers tired of being confined to their houses by a stringent curfew that was lifted only briefly in the mornings and evenings to enable people to acquire essential commodities.
Those trying to incite more violence could also have spread the rumours.
A foreigner who has lived here for nearly 15 years said all kinds of rumours had circulated in 1990 when there was a mass uprising seeking to restore democracy and clip the powers of monarchy.
On Saturday, as the city's cyber cafes opened for two hours in the evening, youngsters rushed in to surf the Net for information.
Such was the impact of the rumours that they probably led to Crown Prince Paras and Crown Princess Himani paying a nearly hour-long visit to the temples and royal museums at Hanumandhoka in the heart of the city in an oblique attempt to dispel doubts.
All the local TV channels showed the royal couple visiting the historic area in their evening bulletins and on Sunday morning. Photographs also appeared on the front page of newspapers.
At least three web sites are said to have contributed to the rumour mongering, with the chat forums carrying messages posted about the alleged incident.
A chat site user, identified as WR, posted a message saying: "It has been confirmed that the Princess died on 10.30 today... Sep 4, 2004 Saturday. May her soul rest in peace."
WR went on to fabricate further: "My info came from phone calls too... from ppl with direct link to Darbar and doctors. The official news will say its (sic) a suicide. They don't want trouble."
Another chatter with the user name Kiddo had this to say: "The Crown Princess had threatened to attempt (sic) suicide on several occasions for argument involving Paras' wayward behaviour (the disco incident). This is a sad, sad news. We don't need any more sad news as headlines."
However, there were some sane voices among the chatters. One of them, Sano Kancha (meaning Young Boy in Nepalese), had a warning to deliver.
The posting on Saturday said: "Bhupi Sherchan the late renowned poet wrote 'Yo Hallai Halla ko desh' (This is a country of rumours). The same is true with this news. Maybe some groups who were involved with rioting in Nepal last Wednesday are gain trying to cook up some thing again. So PLEASE BE AWARE! I do not think there is any truth and is just a RUMOUR only. The story will unfold in the next couple of hours." When the true story really unfolded on Saturday evening and it was proved beyond doubt that the Crown Princess, the mother of three, was in the pink of health, the gossip mongers blamed it on a recent incident at a discotheque where Paras had an argument with his wife and fired in the air.
Nobody was hurt, except perhaps the young heir's reputation.
The petite and beautiful Crown Princess, married to Crown Prince Paras in January 2000, is one of the most popular figures in the royal family and was recently photographed in conversation with street children.
"I am glad it's all rumour," said Maya Bista, a housewife who had gone to Hanumandhoka to get a glimpse of the royal couple on Saturday. "When things go back to normal, I shall offer puja at the temple of Lord Pashupatinath."
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