Who killed Pandit Narayan Prasad Pokhrel and why? As with any other murder of a powerful person conspiracy theories abound. Though the Maoist affiliated Dalit Mukti Morcha of Kapilbastu has taken responsibility for the incident, the silence of the upper echelons of the rebel party casts reason for doubt. Some months ago, the Maoists of this region had captured Chet Bahadur Kunwar of the royal palace and freed him a few days later. This shows that the Maoist policy in this area does not include the killing of 'high profile' people.

Two years ago, two members of the Maoist revolutionary wing were arrested at Pandit Pokhrel's residence. Sources say that though the revolutionary group suspected the Pandit of informing the police, they did not blame him. But this does not mean that the Pandit did not have political enemies. He had close connections with the World Hindu Council andWorld Hindu Federation. Hindu hardliners had for some years been trying to make Nepal their centre. After the Federation's Achhyut Regmi began favouring Ashok Singhal openly, he began to make things difficult for Pokhrel who had grown popular. But the Council's 'denominational agenda' and the arguments raised by Pokhrel meant that relations between Singhal, Bharat Keshari Simha and Pokhrel deteriorated. Even if it was the Maoists' Dalit Mukti Morcha killed Pokhrel, the World Hindu Federation and Singhal will benefit the most. Could it be that the Maoists' Dalit wing is manipulated by other powers? This incident has many political implications. Pokhrel was a progressive pandit, he was against Hindu fundamentalism and untouchable practices. Often accused of trying to destroy Hindu society, it is not difficult to measure their scorn for him.

The power wielded by the World Hindu Federation and World Hindu Council and its sister organisation in Nepal- Hindu Social Workers' Association -is connected to the present regime while Pandit Pokhrel's power came from his popularity among devotees and his 'Puran revolution'. Before news about his death was broadcast, a directive was issued to state-run tv and radio stations in Nepal telling them not to call him 'Bachan Siromani'. If the leaders of the Maoist party do not clarify their role in Pandit Pokhrel's murder, it will only benefit the Indian extremist Hindu association and their associates in Nepal. Pandit Pokhrel's religious and altruistic campaign for the people had become the greatest obstacle to their domination campaign. (A Maoist mouthpiece, Jana Bidroha said this week that the leadership had started an inquiry into the murder.)