Kathmandu, Oct 22

Senior journalist Madhav Kumar Rimal has passed away. He was 96. The veteran journalist died at his house at local Maitidevi on Wednesday, Rimal’s daughter Sarita Rimal said.

Rimal was the publisher and editor of the English fortnightly magazine The Spotlight for about a decade. He was the last journalist to have an audience with then King Birendra on the very day the Royal Palace Massacre took place on June 1, 2001.

Rimal had also worked as the Nepal’s Consular General in the then East Pakistan when he was in the Foreign Affairs Service. The last rites of the late Rimal would be performed at Pashupati Aryaghat this morning, according to family sources.

He leaves behind three sons and two daughters.