KATHMANDU: A video showing Balen Shah apparently pushing supporters while registering his candidacy in Jhapa-5 went viral on Tuesday, with some social media users claiming it was AI-generated. Clips shared on Threads, Facebook, X, and other platforms sparked debate, with some alleging that Balen had shoved a man in a red sweater or even punched a supporter.
An investigation by the Nepali Technology news portal TechPana, however, confirmed that the footage is real. Videos captured from different angles by Facebook pages ‘Sunaulo Nepal’, ‘Madani Beat’, and ‘Mero Suchana’ showed the same incident. Analysis using AI detection tools, including Hive Moderation, verified that the clips were not digitally manipulated.
Eyewitnesses clarified the context of the incident. Arjun Upreti, disciplinary head of Rastriya Swatantra Party in Jhapa, said Balen used his hands to control the crowd, not to harm anyone. Due to election rules, only 25 people were allowed inside the election office during the nomination.
With supporters crowding the entrance, Balen intervened to manage the group and ensure compliance with the code of conduct. Another eyewitness, Arjun Ghimire, confirmed that Balen acted to prevent disorder, not out of anger.
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