Old Video of Singer Ashok Darji Being Assaulted Goes Viral; Police Investigation Underway

साउन ११, २०८३ १६:२६

Kathmandu. A video showing child singer Ashok Darji being physically assaulted and verbally abused has gone viral on social media, prompting renewed public attention to an incident that the singer says occurred about a month and a half ago and is already under police investigation.

The 31-second video, widely shared on Sunday, shows a group of youths confronting Darji in the middle of a street, accusing him of taking money. One of the youths is seen slapping the singer while hurling abusive remarks, as others record the incident on video.

In the footage, the youths can also be heard making accusations related to money and discussing recording the assault before sharing it online.

Speaking to TechPana, Darji confirmed that the incident is not recent. He said he had already filed a complaint with the police and that the investigation would determine the facts.

“I have already lodged a complaint with the police. The investigation will reveal who is at fault,” Darji said, adding that he is currently in Kathmandu and plans to publicly share his account of the incident.

Film producer and actress Neeta Dhungana also stated that the viral video is old and shared a copy of the police complaint filed by Darji. Expressing concern over the circulation of the video, she said the incident should be investigated impartially rather than judged through social media.

In a social media post, Dhungana wrote that while the dispute may appear to be related to a financial transaction, the truth has yet to be established. She stressed that physical assault, public humiliation, and abuse cannot be justified regardless of the allegations against any individual.

According to the complaint filed at Anarmani Police Station on July 6, Darji accused individuals of assaulting him, falsely labeling him a thief, recording the incident, and uploading the video to social media.

The complaint states that the incident stemmed from an alleged dispute over Rs 1,000 during a visit to his maternal uncle's home. About a week later, Darji alleged that two youths confronted him near a petrol station, accused him of theft, assaulted him, filmed the incident, and later circulated the footage online. He also claimed they threatened him when he asked them to remove the video.

Jhapa District Police spokesperson Ranjan Awale confirmed that the complaint had been registered at Anarmani Police Station and said the investigation is ongoing.

According to Awale, Darji later traveled to Kathmandu for musical performances, while police continue gathering evidence and statements related to the case.