Second Fateh Jung Shah ministry

Second Fateh Jung Shah Ministry or Second Government of Fateh Jung Shah or Fateh Jung Shah's Second Council of Bharadars was the council of the Bharadars (equivalent to the ministry or the government of Nepal) which was formed on September 1845 (Ashwin 1902) after the assassination of Mukhtiyar Mathabarsingh Thapa. The ministry was led by Fateh Jung Shah in his second term as Mukhtiyar (Prime Minister) of Nepal. However, the virtual Prime Minister was Kaji Gagan Singh Bhandari who had stronghold over large number of military forces than the Mukhtiyar. This council of ministers were dissolved due to the murder of entire council members on 14th September 1846 by the only surviving member Jang Bahadur Kunwar; the incident known as the Kot Massacre.

The Council
The ministry of the Kingdom of Nepal formed on September 1845 (Ashwin 1902) after the death of Prime Minister Mathabarsingh Thapa included Chautariya Fateh Jung Shah, Gagan Singh Bhandari, Abhiman Singh Rana Magar and Dalbhanjan Pande. Kaji Jang Bahadur Kunwar was also reinstated to his post as Kaji and General with 3 regiments under him in the council.

Fateh Jung Shah, King Rajendra's favourite courtier, was appointed as Mukhtiyar with control over Western Commands of the Nepalese Army, Departmemt of Foreign Affairs and a direct administration of 3 military regiments. Gagan Singh Bhandari, the Junior Queen Rajya Lakshmi's favourite courtier, became the most influential member in the State Council where he received direct control of 7 military regiments and was assigned the responsibility of supervision over all the arsenals and magazines in the country. He was also assigned the direct administration of the Kathmandu Valley. Abhiman Singh Rana Magar was appointed with the control over the Eastern Commands of the Nepalese Army with personal control of 2 regiments. Dalbhanjan Pande was awarded the rank of General along with the one regiment of soldiers under his administration. Fateh Jung, Abhiman Singh and Dalbhanjan were inclined to King Rajendra while Gagan Singh was inclined to Junior Queen Rajya Laxmi. However, Jang Bahadur acted neutral to both factions.

Dissolution
On 31st Bhadra 1902 (September 1846) around 10 pm, Gagan Singh Bhandari was killed in his prayer room at home by a Maithil Brahmin assassin named Lal Jha. Historian Baburam Acharya opines that Lal Jha was most probably supplied with guns and ammunition by Jang Bahadur Kunwar. It was also rumoured that Mukhtiyar Fateh Jung Shah had helped the King in selecting an assassin for Gagan Singh. The investigation of the murder of Gagan Singh led to the Kot Massacre on 14th September 1846 where all the members of the Council were killed with the exception of Jang Bahadur Kunwar. Jang Bahadur, his brothers and aides conducted the massacre and afterwards received high posts in the new government.

Books