This video showing a man replacing an Islamic flag with a saffron flag is from Karnataka, not Nepal
On 04 September 2025, Nepal banned 26 social media platforms, sparking youth protests from 08 September that left 72 dead and over 2,100 injured. PM K. P. Sharma Oli resigned on 09 September; Sushila Karki became interim PM, with elections set for 05 March 2026. The army was deployed, and compensation and medical aid were announced for victims (here, here, and here).
In this context, a video is circulating on social media (here, here, and here) showing a man climbing a pole, removing a green flag, and hoisting a saffron one. The post is being shared with claims that it is from Nepal, suggesting Hindus there are replacing Islamic flags with saffron flags. Let’s verify the claim made in the post in this article.
Claim: The video shows Hindus in Nepal replacing Islamic flags with saffron flags.
Fact: The viral video does not show Hindus in Nepal replacing Islamic flags with saffron flags. It is from Maddur, Mandya, Karnataka, India. According to reports, on 08 September 2025, Hindutva activists marched from Narsingh Swami Temple to a mosque and forcibly replaced an Islamic flag with a saffron one. The incident followed stone-pelting during a Ganesh idol immersion on 07 September 2025. However, we could not independently verify whether the viral video is linked to the protests in Maddur or the context. But with the available evidence, it is clear that the viral video is not from Nepal, but from Karnataka, India. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.
A reverse image search of keyframes from the viral video led to several social media posts by different media outlets showing the same incident from different angles (here, here, and here). According to these posts, the event took place in Maddur, Mandya, Karnataka, on 08 September 2025, when hundreds of Hindutva activists marched from Narsingh Swami Temple to a mosque, forcibly removed an Islamic flag, and hoisted a saffron flag in its place.
We also traced the exact location and identified it as 23 Maddur Main Rd, Maddur, Karnataka. The pole placement and surrounding architectural features seen in the viral video align with those at the site. The comparison can be seen below.
According to reports, a stone-pelting incident during a Ganesh idol immersion on 07 September 2025 in Maddur resulted in eight people being injured. Hindu organisations held protests, during which some participants hoisted saffron flags atop shops near Canara Bank Circle. Authorities imposed Section 144 and deployed over 1,500 police personnel, keeping the bandh on 09 September 2025 peaceful. A district-level peace meeting was held with officials and community leaders to restore harmony. An FIR was also filed against BJP MLC C.T. Ravi for alleged provocative speech contributing to tensions.
However, we could not independently verify whether the viral video is linked to the Hindu organisations’ protests in Maddur or the context. But with the available evidence, it is clear that the viral video is not from Nepal, but from Karnataka, India.
To sum up, the video showing a man replacing an Islamic flag with a saffron flag on a pole is from Karnataka, not Nepal.