Delivery Rider Harassed in Viral Prank Video, Social Media Demands Police Action

Kathmandu. A video showing a prank played on a delivery rider has sparked widespread controversy on social media, with users condemning what they describe as verbal abuse, humiliation, and mistreatment based on the young man's identity and appearance. Many have demanded legal action against those involved, arguing that the incident was not entertainment but harassment.

What's in the viral video?

In the viral video, four young men are seen ordering an item on a deserted dirt road. A delivery rider arrives on a blue Yamaha motorcycle to deliver the order. As he approaches, one of the young men remarks, "He looks like a thief just by his appearance."

While receiving the delivery, the group asks the rider where he is from. After he replies, "Terai," he hands over a tempered glass, reportedly worth Rs 3,500, to one of the young men.

The situation quickly escalates as the group begins threatening the rider, saying, "We'll take Rs 3,500 from you." They accuse him of trying to cheat them, threaten to snatch his delivery bag, and even say they will tie it to his motorcycle and throw it off a cliff. They later demand Rs 5,000 from him instead.

Frightened, the delivery rider repeatedly apologizes with folded hands. However, the group continues to demean him, repeatedly saying he looks like a "thief" and asking whether he is one. The rider responds, "I'm only asking for payment for the goods, yet you're calling me a thief." Despite his explanation, the verbal abuse continues.

The rider then attempts to leave with his delivery bag, but one of the young men grabs his shirt and demands money. The rider says he has no money and pleads to leave, even saying he no longer wants payment for the delivered item.

One of the young men then points to the tempered glass and tells him, "This was just an excuse to bring you here," before attempting to lift and push him.

Terrified, the delivery rider runs away along the road while the group chases him. During the chase, they continue shouting at him. While pursuing the rider, one of the pranksters slips into the water collected on the road and injures his knee.

Protests on Social Media

The Facebook page 'Thug Life Janakpur' shared the video, describing it as an attack on Madhesi identity and condemning it as humiliating behavior.

The page wrote:

"In a country where the Constitution guarantees equal rights, it is shameful that such behavior still occurs based on identity. Is his only fault being Madhesi?"

Similarly, Facebook user Santosh Yadav wrote:

"It is utterly condemnable and inexcusable to subject hardworking people who earn an honest living to racist abuse by calling them 'thief-faced.' Where is the state mechanism?"

Many users tagged the Nepal Police while sharing the video, demanding legal action against those involved. Several also warned that targeting any community for views and cheap social media popularity could undermine social harmony.

What is the reality of the video?

An investigation found that the video was uploaded on the YouTube channel 'Jiban Oli' on June 24, 2026.

The 4-minute-24-second video begins with the hosts showing that they intentionally ordered an item as part of what they describe as a prank.

At the end of the video, after the delivery rider flees in fear and residents gather at the scene, the pranksters explain it was only a prank.

The delivery rider says he genuinely believed the threats were real and became extremely frightened. He requests that no one play such frightening pranks on anyone in the future.

The video concludes with the prank team apologizing to the rider, paying for the delivered items, and obtaining his permission before uploading the footage to social media.

Despite the apology and the rider's apparent consent shown at the end of the video, criticism on social media has continued.

Users argue that causing severe mental distress or humiliating someone based on ethnic or regional identity cannot be justified as content or entertainment.

Many have called for the YouTube channel to be collectively reported, while others have urged police to take strict action, arguing that such conduct on sensitive issues is not entertainment but a social offense.

 

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