#FactCheck - Debunking Viral Photo: Tears of Photographer Not Linked to Ram Mandir Opening

Research Wing

Innovation and Research

PUBLISHED ON

Jan 30, 2024

Executive Summary:

A photographer breaking down in tears in a viral photo is not connected to the Ram Mandir opening. Social media users are sharing a collage of images of the recently dedicated Lord Ram idol at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, along with a claimed shot of the photographer crying at the sight of the deity. A Facebook post that posts this video says, "Even the cameraman couldn't stop his emotions." The CyberPeace Research team found that the event happened during the AFC Asian Cup football match in 2019. During a match between Iraq and Qatar, an Iraqi photographer started crying since Iraq had lost and was out of the competition.

Claims:

The photographer in the widely shared images broke down in tears at seeing the icon of Lord Ram during the Ayodhya Ram Mandir's consecration. The Collage was also shared by many users in other Social Media like X, Reddit, Facebook. An Facebook user shared and the Caption of the Post reads,

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Fact Check:

CyberPeace Research team reverse image searched the Photographer, and it landed to several memes from where the picture was taken, from there we landed to a Pinterest Post where it reads, “An Iraqi photographer as his team is knocked out of the Asian Cup of Nations”

Taking an indication from this we did some keyword search and tried to find the actual news behind this Image. We landed at the official Asian Cup X (formerly Twitter) handle where the image was shared 5 years ago on 24 Jan, 2019. The Post reads, “Passionate. Emotional moment for an Iraqi photographer during the Round of 16 clash against ! #AsianCup2019”

We are now confirmed about the News and the origin of this image. To be noted that while we were investigating the Fact Check we also found several other Misinformation news with the Same photographer image and different Post Captions which was all a Misinformation like this one.

Conclusion:

The recent Viral Image of the Photographer claiming to be associated with Ram Mandir Opening is Misleading, the Image of the Photographer was a 5 years old image where the Iraqi Photographer was seen Crying during the Asian Cup Football Competition but not of recent Ram Mandir Opening. Netizens are advised not to believe and share such misinformation posts around Social Media.

Claim: A person in the widely shared images broke down in tears at seeing the icon of Lord Ram during the Ayodhya Ram Mandir's consecration.
Claimed on: Facebook, X, Reddit
Fact Check: Fake

PUBLISHED ON

Jan 30, 2024

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Entering the Robotic Renaissance

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The recent unveiling of the humanoid “pregnancy robot” presents the next frontier in reproductive robotics, garnering both criticism and support. Although this bold innovation holds promise, it also presents unavoidable cybersecurity, privacy, and ethical conundrums. The humanoid is being developed by Kaiwa Technology under the direction of Dr. Zhang Qifeng, who is also connected to Nanyang Technological University. As per the report of ECNS, he presented his idea for a robotic surrogate that could carry a child for a full-term pregnancy at the 2025 World Robot Conference in Beijing. While the technology is indubitably groundbreaking, it raises a lot of ethical and moral concerns as well as legal concerns, as surrogacy is banned in China.

Alongside the concerns raised by various segments of doctors, feminists who argue on the devaluation and pathologising of pregnancy, it also raises various cybersecurity concerns, keeping in mind the interpersonal and intimate nature of human connections, where robotics are now making headway. Pregnancy is inherently intimate. Our understanding of bodily autonomy is blurred when we move into the realm of machinery. From artificial amniotic fluid sensors to embryo data, every layer of this technology becomes a possible attack vector. Robots with artificial wombs are essentially IoT-powered medical systems. As per the research conducted by the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Cornell University, “our lives have been made easier by the incorporation of AI into robotics systems, but there is a significant drawback as well: these systems are susceptible to security breaches. Malicious actors may take advantage of the data, algorithms, and physical components that make up AI-Robotics systems, which can cast a debilitating impact.

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Conclusion

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References

#FactCheck: General Dhiraj Seth’s Nepal Visit Photo Misleadingly Linked to Dance Video

October 16, 2026

Executive Summary

Social media users are claiming that Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth dances with soldiers’ wives and attended a dance competition organised by the Border Security Force Wives Welfare Association (BWWA). CyberPeace Research found no credible sources to substantiate the viral claim. Our research revealed that the viral image is related to his visit to Nepal. According to reports, he travelled to Nepal on his first foreign visit after taking charge of the Indian Army, where he was welcomed by senior Nepal Army officials. During the visit, he was also scheduled to receive the honorary rank of General of the Nepal Army. However, his photograph is being linked to a dance video from an event organised by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), accompanied by objectionable claims about him. Our research found no credible evidence confirming that General Dhiraj Seth attended the event or was associated with the activities shown in the video. Therefore, linking his photograph from the Nepal visit to the dance video is misleading.

Claim:

It is being claimed on social media that Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth attended a dance competition organised by the BSF Wives Welfare Association (BWWA), where he was impressed by a woman’s dance performance and asked other participants to follow her lead.

https://x.com/ThokaReturns/status/2110854323760693485

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Fact Check

To verify the viral claim, we conducted a reverse image search using keyframes from the video. During this process, we found the video on Instagram. The text “BSF Wives Welfare Association” was visible on the backdrop behind the stage. However, there was no mention of Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth anywhere in the video.

https://www.instagram.com/reels/Ddl7oTEgnf7/

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After reviewing these videos, our research found no evidence to substantiate the claim that General Dhiraj Seth attended an event organised by the BSF Wives Welfare Association or danced at the event. His photograph is being linked to the dance video, but no credible evidence supporting this claim was found.

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During our research, we found the original video of Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth shared by ANI. According to the report, General Dhiraj Seth arrived in Nepal on a three-day official visit aimed at strengthening defence ties between the two countries.

https://www.instagram.com/reels/DcGxzLPExR5/

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In the final stage of our research, we found a report on an Instagram account named ‘nepalinlast24hours’. According to the report, Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth arrived in Kathmandu on his first foreign visit after taking command of the Indian Army on June 30, 2026. He was welcomed by senior Nepal Army officials at Tribhuvan International Airport.

The report stated that during his four-day visit, General Seth was scheduled to meet Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah and Nepal Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel. Additionally, he was scheduled to be conferred with the honorary rank of General of the Nepal Army at a special ceremony at Sheetal Niwas on Monday.This tradition between India and Nepal dates back to 1950. Under the arrangement, the army chiefs of both countries are conferred with honorary military ranks in each other’s armies.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DcGbgm0jUBH/?dlrf=MXFndzM5dGp4ZTh5OA%3D%3D

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Conclusion

Our research found that the viral photograph of Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth is related to his visit to Nepal. According to reports, he travelled to Nepal on his first foreign visit after taking command of the Indian Army, where he was welcomed by senior Nepal Army officials. During the visit, he was also scheduled to be conferred with the honorary rank of General of the Nepal Army.However, his photograph is being linked on social media to a dance video from an event organised by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), accompanied by objectionable claims about him. Our research found no credible evidence confirming General Dhiraj Seth’s presence at the event or his association with the activities shown in the video. Therefore, linking his photograph from his Nepal visit to the dance video is misleading.

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References

#FactCheck - Debunking Viral Photo: Tears of Photographer Not Linked to Ram Mandir Opening

Executive Summary:

Claims:

Fact Check:

Conclusion:

Related Blogs

Introduction

Entering the Robotic Renaissance

The Robotic Pivot: The Market’s Greatest Disruption

Conclusion

References

Executive Summary

Claim:

Fact Check

Conclusion

Infostealer Malware and Why It’s a Serious Threat

Guidelines for protection

Why This Data Breach is a Wake-Up Call

Conclusion

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