Basudev Thapa

Basudev Thapa was born in 1979 in Nepal. By his mid‑twenties, he was serving as a sergeant in the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) and was stationed at the Nagarkot barracks near Kathmandu Valley. Public records indicate that Thapa had been assigned to the area for an extended period prior to the incident.

According to the findings of a later judicial inquiry, Thapa had a documented history of disciplinary issues within the army. The official report stated that he had previously obstructed work and exhibited conduct inconsistent with military discipline. The inquiry also criticized senior officers at the Nagarkot barracks for failing to properly enforce discipline among personnel under their command.

Thapa reportedly had long‑standing personal disputes with individuals from nearby villages, particularly youths from Pipalbot village. These tensions were known locally and had persisted for some time prior to the massacre. There is no verified evidence that Thapa was under active military duty at the time of the shooting.

On the night of 14 December 2005, a mass shooting occurred at the Kali Devi Temple, located in Chihandanda near Nagarkot, Nepal.

Approximately 250 villagers had gathered at the temple to celebrate Mangsir Purnima, a religious festival. During the celebration, an argument broke out between Basudev Thapa and several local youths from Pipalbot village, with whom he reportedly had a long‑standing feud. Witnesses stated that the confrontation escalated into a physical altercation, during which Thapa was beaten by the youths.

Following the fight, Thapa allegedly attacked one of the youths with a knife. He then left the temple grounds on his motorcycle after shouting a threat that he would return and kill those present. Thapa drove to the Nagarkot army barracks, where he retrieved an L1A1 Self‑Loading Rifle (SLR). Despite being off‑duty, he was able to leave the barracks with the weapon without challenge.

Approximately 30 minutes later, at around 11:30 p.m., Thapa returned to the temple area accompanied by three fellow soldiers. Upon arrival, he fired several rounds into the air before opening fire indiscriminately at the crowd. Many people attempted to seek shelter inside the temple, but Thapa continued firing into the group.

More than 200 rounds were discharged during the attack. Eleven civilians were killed, and nineteen others were injured by gunfire. Initial reports incorrectly stated that twelve people had died, but the official investigation later confirmed eleven fatalities.

After the shooting, Thapa was found dead near the scene. Medical examination revealed a gunshot wound beneath his chin, consistent with a self‑inflicted injury. Survivors, eyewitness accounts, and statements from the Royal Nepal Army concluded that Thapa died by suicide immediately following the attack.