View source for Narayan Pokharel

{{Orphan|date=December 2022}}

{{Infobox Hindu leader
| name             = Narayan Pokharel
| image            =
| caption          = 
| birth_date       = 
| birth_place      = Baguwa, GORKHA District
| birth_name       = 
| death_date       = 
| death_place      = | death_cause        = [[Assassination]]
| influences       = 
| influenced       = 
| religion         = [[Hinduism]]
| school_tradition = 
}}
'''Narayan Prasad Pokharel''' (1958–2005) was president of the [[Nepal]] branch of the [[World Hindu Federation]]. He was killed by gunfire while attending a religious festival after being attacked by six gunmen who belonged to the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) during the country's civil war in Dudrakshya village, [[Rupandehi District]], Nepal (near [[Butwal]]) about 300 kilometers west of [[Kathmandu]].

[[Maoist]] rebels perpetrated the killing. The killers descended on the festival in motorcycles at dawn and shot Pokharel nine times as he stood outside the guest house where he was staying.

The Maoists issued a statement condemning Pokharel for "indulging in sexual exploitation, amassing property illegally, misusing the name of [[Dalit (outcaste)|Dalit]]s and trying to garner popular support in favour of monarchy". The killing was reportedly carried out by the Dalit Mukti Morcha, an underground, banned organisation affiliated to the Maoists whose members are mostly Dalits, the [[Dalit (outcaste)|Untouchable]]s at the bottom of traditional Hindu caste-system. The Maoist rebels have been waging a violent campaign to topple the [[Hindu monarchy]].

The conservative World Hindu Federation is headquartered in [[India]] and has branches in many countries throughout the world.

Narayan Pokharel is survived by his two wives and ten children.

Nepal's government in June 2009 announced it would honor him as a 'religious martyr'.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hindu preacher declared 'religious martyr' by Nepal govt |url=http://www.zeenews.com/news542165.html |agency=Zee News |date=25 June 2009 |access-date=27 June 2009 |quote="Nepal's new government has declared a Hindu religious preacher, allegedly killed by Maoist cadres four years back in western Nepal, as a 'religious martyr'." }}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4520505.stm Hindu leader shot dead in Nepal]
*[http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=111368&Sn=WORL&IssueID=28048 Maoists gun down priest] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050507075159/http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=111368&Sn=WORL&IssueID=28048 |date=2005-05-07 }}
*[https://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=8411593 Suspected Maoists kill top Hindu leader in Nepal]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
*[http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/05/06/nepal.killings/index.html Nepalese Hindu leader shot dead]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pokharel, Narayan}}
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:2005 deaths]]
[[Category:Nepalese murder victims]]
[[Category:Deaths by firearm in Nepal]]
[[Category:Nepalese Hindus]]
[[Category:People murdered in Nepal]]
[[Category:Hindu martyrs]]
[[Category:People from Gorkha District]]
[[Category:Civilians killed in the Nepalese Civil War]]