Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), Prachanda [Credit: Gopal Chitrakar—Reuters/Landov] Nepalese Maoist political party that led a successful campaign to overthrow Nepal’s monarchy and replace it with a democratically elected government. The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), or CPN (M), was founded by Pushpa Kamal Dahal—also known as Prachanda (“Fierce”)—in 1994, as a result of a split within the Communist Party of Nepal (Unity Centre). Many Nepalese were not even aware of the group’s existence until February 1996, when the CPN (M) launched a guerrilla war that shook the nation. The group destroyed buildings, stole currency, and killed civilians. The insurgency lasted from 1996 to 2006 and resulted in the deaths of more than 12,000 Nepalis. Human rights groups were critical of the CPN (M) for their alleged use of underage soldiers, some as young as 12.
