Attribution note: OHCHR-Nepal documented the sequence of violence and concluded that most victims were killed by supporters of the Madheshi People’s Rights Forum after a confrontation with Maoist cadres. That institutional finding does not establish the guilt of every person later named in complaints. A 2025 Supreme Court order required a proper investigation; it was not a conviction.
Two rallies at the same field
On March 21, 2007, the Madheshi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) scheduled mass meetings at the Rice Mill field in Gaur, Rautahat District. The rival events were placed only a short distance apart despite visible political tension and warnings that violence could follow.
OHCHR-Nepal found failures by organizers and authorities before the gathering. The Maoist side persisted with a simultaneous rally in a provocative setting, while MPRF organizers did not effectively prevent supporters from bringing improvised weapons. Police had information about the risk, yet adequate preventive deployment and separation did not occur.
The confrontation and killings
The immediate clash began when a group of young men destroyed the Maoist stage. Maoist supporters then charged the MPRF platform. MPRF supporters initially fled but regrouped and attacked the outnumbered Maoist cadres. Violence spread from the field into nearby streets and villages as people were chased.
OHCHR recorded 27 dead: 26 people linked to the Maoist party and one person who remained unidentified in the report. The victims included four women and a 17-year-old girl. All but one were killed by blows from bamboo sticks and lathis, according to the UN investigation. The report also documented serious injuries.
Victims, not a political tally
Political affiliation explains why the groups confronted one another, but it does not reduce the victims to party labels. The killings occurred after individuals fled or were separated from the initial clash. OHCHR described several deaths outside the field and found indications of deliberate, exceptionally brutal attacks on people who no longer posed an immediate threat.
Some early reporting counted at least 25 deaths. The completed OHCHR investigation documented 27. This page uses the later verified total and identifies the earlier figure as a preliminary count rather than a contradiction.
Failures of prevention and response
A considerable number of law-enforcement personnel were in the area, but only a small contingent was deployed at the Rice Mill field when violence began. OHCHR concluded that most, if not all, of the killings could have been prevented through responsible political leadership and effective policing.
The report called for criminal investigation of those directly responsible, inquiry into organizers who may have incited or facilitated violence, and review of official failures. Those recommendations did not themselves determine criminal guilt.
Years without a completed investigation
Victims’ families filed complaints naming numerous people, including political figures. For years, the investigation did not progress to a comprehensive judicial resolution. Public reporting described repeated demands for police action and concern that political influence had contributed to delay.
Names appearing in a complaint are allegations. This archive does not describe Upendra Yadav or any other living person as a perpetrator without a final judgment. The OHCHR report documented group conduct and investigative leads but did not convict individual defendants.
The 2025 Supreme Court order
On August 18, 2025, a joint bench of Nepal’s Supreme Court directed the government and police to conduct the long-delayed investigation. The Kathmandu Post reported the order on August 19 and noted that senior politicians were among those named in the case.
The order renewed a legal duty to investigate. It did not decide whether the allegations were proved, authorize treating named people as convicted, or supply a final criminal verdict. Research through September 16, 2026 did not locate a final conviction arising from the massacre.
Current status
The case is best classified as unsolved / investigation judicially compelled. The event, victim count and broad sequence are strongly documented by a dedicated UN investigation. Individual criminal liability remains unresolved.
This case is distinct from Doramba, Dhanusha, Maina Sunuwar and Madi. Gaur occurred after the 2006 peace agreement, involved rival political groups at public rallies and has its own victims, alleged actors, evidence and judicial history.
Verified timeline
- March 21, 2007: rival rallies at the Rice Mill field erupt into violence; 27 people are killed.
- March 22, 2007: the UN High Commissioner calls for a full, impartial investigation after a preliminary count of 25.
- April 20, 2007: OHCHR-Nepal publishes its detailed findings and recommendations.
- 2007–2023: families and rights advocates repeatedly demand action while no comprehensive prosecution is completed.
- August 18, 2025: Nepal’s Supreme Court orders authorities to investigate.
- September 16, 2026: no final perpetrator conviction is located in the reviewed record.
Frequently asked questions
When and where did the Gaur massacre occur?
On March 21, 2007, at and around the Rice Mill field in Gaur, Rautahat District.
How many people were killed?
OHCHR-Nepal documented 27 deaths: 26 people linked to the Maoist party and one unidentified person.
What triggered the violence?
Rival groups scheduled simultaneous rallies at the same field. A stage was destroyed, a confrontation followed and violence spread as people fled.
Did the Supreme Court convict anyone?
No. Its August 2025 order required authorities to investigate; it was not a verdict on guilt.
Is the case solved?
No final individual conviction was located through September 16, 2026.