with the siege of kathmandu continuing, the gorkhalis took kirtipur in the battle of kirtipur in 1767. the fall of the hilltop town located to the west of kathmandu, which was marked by bloody fighting and savagery, was a setback for the valley's defense. prithvi narayan sent his agents to infiltrate the city and create dissension among the newars by conducting a propaganda campaign. after many months, they succeeded in driving a wedge between the king and the nobles of kathmandu.