KATHMANDU: Former Inspector General of Nepal Police Chandra Kuber Khapung has described a recent documentary aired by the BBC as a serious ploy aimed at influencing the upcoming election.
Khapung, who retired on November 13, 2025, and has since been engaged in farming in his home district of Tehrathum, came into the spotlight after the BBC released a documentary related to the Gen-Z movement just days before the election.
The development follows a report by Reuters, which earlier claimed that senior Rastriya Swatantra Party leader Balendra Shah was poised to become Prime Minister. A day later, the BBC published a documentary that has drawn criticism for allegedly raising questions about the election code of conduct.
With only a week remaining before the election, critics have alleged that the documentary was released in a planned manner to elevate one political force while weakening another. Commenting on the issue, Khapung termed the BBC’s move a serious maneuver.
There remain differing views in the country regarding the Gen-Z protest on September 8, 2025, and the incidents of vandalism reported nationwide on September 9. Khapung argued that the documentary selectively focused on certain images and footage from a specific time on September 8 while ignoring other aspects, thereby presenting a one-sided narrative.
He said the documentary appeared sponsored and accused it of attempting to sway public opinion ahead of the polls by amplifying limited content through social media.
Khapung further stated that once a curfew is declared at the district level, higher security leadership does not need to issue separate orders to open fire, as decisions are taken by the District Security Committee in accordance with established principles and legal procedures.
He alleged that Western media outlets had intervened after local actors failed to influence the narrative.
“In the name of commentary, Westerners themselves have come to interfere in Nepal’s internal affairs,” he said. “There is nothing substantial in the content. When local attempts were insufficient, they themselves stepped in.”
Khapung, who served a brief two-month tenure as IGP, maintained that such publicity stunts carried out on the eve of elections would ultimately prove meaningless and would not significantly impact voters’ decisions.
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