This article is about the Nepalese journalist. For the former King of Nepal, see Birendra of Nepal.
Birendra Shah
Born
Inarwasira
Disappeared
October 4/5, 2007 Pipara Bazaar, Kalaiya, Bara, Nepal
Status
Killed
Body discovered
November 8, 2007
Nationality
Nepalese
Occupation
Journalist
Employer(s)
Nepal FM, Dristi Weekly, and Avenues TV
Spouse
Umarawati Devi
Children
Bibek Shah
Parent
Deven Shah
Birendra Shah (Nepali: बीरेन्द्र शाह) (Unknown – November 8, 2007) was a print and broadcast journalist for the Nepal FM, Dristi Weekly, and Avenues TVinBara, Nepal. Shah was kidnapped October 4/5, 2007, by Communist Party of NepalMaoists from Pipara Bazaar, Kalaiya, Bara, Nepal, and found dead one month later.[1][2][3] The CPN(M) later issued a statement confirming his death.[4]
Kalaiya, in the Bara district, is located in Nepal and shown relative to the capital Kathmandu.
Shah was kidnapped after exposing the Maoists and connections to illegal logging deals. Three members of the Maoists abducted Shah, took him to a forest, and then shot him to death same day he was kidnapped.[5]
Shah exposed illegal logging deals related to the Maoists. Before his death, he had written several reports about the Maoists which resulted in many threats from the party. They abducted and killed him the same day in a forest and threw his body in a swampy forest. Members of Maoist first denied the abduction and killing of the journalist but then after a month admitted to the killing. The abduction and killing was part of a "personal vendetta".[5][6]
More than a month after the killing, Maoist Deputy Commander Janardan Sharma Prabhakar apologized on behalf of his party, which had previously claimed innocence.[11]
