A video tied to Lat Bhairav temple in Varanasi has triggered a stir on social media. Two women dancing in a religious festival in the video were seen in the background while police were seen to be watching or recording the performance.

However, Varanasi Police have now said that the viral video is AI-generated and was circulated to damage the image of the police. An FIR has also been registered against unidentified people in connection with the circulation of the video. What Does the Viral Video Show?

The video circulating online appeared to show women wearing ghaghra and sleeveless choli on a raised stage to Bhojpuri songs. Police personnel could also be seen around the performance area.

The clip was immediately picked up on social media and people wondered why police personnel were allegedly standing around the stage and whether they were watching or recording the performance.

The video also drew criticism from political and civil society groups. However, the authenticity of the viral clip was not independently verified before the police issued their clarification. Varanasi Police say Viral Video Is AI-generated

DCP Kashi Zone Gaurav Banswal said the video was completely AI-generated

According to the police, videos taken by people at the event were examined and enlarged for verification. Police said that officers allegedly visible in the viral clip could not be seen in those genuine crowd-recorded videos.

Based on this comparison, police said the viral footage was digitally created and circulated with the alleged intention of tarnishing the image of the police. The Adampur police station later filed an FIR against anonymous persons for circulation of the alleged AI-generated video. Which Event Was the Video Linked To?

The controversy is related to the Baba Lat Bhairav Barat and wedding celebrations, which were held from September 23 to 27 this year.

The festival celebrates the traditional wedding of Baba Lat Bhairav, also known as Kapal Bhairav, to Goddess Bhairavi.

In the celebrations, devotees carrying wedding offerings travel from the main shrine in Kazzakpura towards Visheshwarganj Sabzi Mandi for the Tilak ceremony. The procession also stops at the Kaal Bhairav temple for rituals and aarti before moving towards the Lat Bhairav temple. Debate Over Dance Performances

The viral video also revived a debate about dance performances associated with the Lat Bhairav celebrations.

People connected to the temple have maintained that performances by nagar vadhus, or traditional courtesans, have been part of the festival’s longstanding practices.

But Sanatan Rakshak Dal president Ajay Sharma disputed this claim. He stated such performances had only been introduced in recent years and questioned their association with religious traditions.

These are competing claims about the history of the practice, and the authenticity of the viral video is not part of that broader cultural debate. Why Did the Video Create Such a Stir?

The controversy grew because the video showed uniformed police personnel near the performance. Questions were raised online whether officers who were there for security were there to watch or record the dance.

Advocate and former Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith general secretary Vikas Singh had also called for an impartial inquiry if any police personnel were found to have neglected their duties.

But with Varanasi Police now identifying the viral clip as AI-generated and an FIR having been registered, the immediate focus has shifted to who created and circulated the video. AI Video Raises Fresh Concerns

The video also demonstrates how AI-generated videos can quickly create controversy when presented as real footage.

This time, the police say the mismatch between the viral clip and videos taken by people at the event helped them identify the footage as AI-generated. The investigation will now look at the source and circulation of the video.

The key point is that the viral video shouldn’t be seen as genuine footage of police personnel at the event just because it’s posted online. Varanasi Police have now denied the authenticity and said it was AI-generated.