The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Viral videos circulating online have shed partial light on the events leading up to a stabbing incident in Paro on the night of 7 December 2025, although police say the precise circumstances of the stabbing itself remain under investigation.
One widely shared video from the same night, but at a different location, shows a group of young men chasing a lone individual along the BOD road in the middle of Paro town.
The video, apparently filmed from inside a moving vehicle by someone accompanying the group, begins with laughter and the caption is “Smogs got smoked.” As the footage continues, the individual being chased is seen being punched as he runs towards the Paro town bridge.
Moments later, the group catches up to him and pins him to the ground before the video cuts off. In the background, voices can be heard shouting phrases such as “Yaya shiwung may,” implying the possibility of death, followed by “Sektang, joba and sektang may,” which translates to “kill fast.”
Another video, believed to be from inside a club earlier that night, shows a performance underway under blue and white strip lighting, with a visible “The Smogs” group logo. In the clip, a voice on the microphone repeatedly urges people not to fight, while several individuals appear to be involved in a scuffle.
A member of the Smogs group alleged that the individual chased in the street video is a member of the rap group “Smogs,” while those pursuing him is the victim in the stabbing case and his friends.
The victim, who is under medical surgery and treatment, has not personally responded to this allegation from the Smogs member.
A prime eyewitness, who does not belong to either group and requested anonymity, said before the main incident of stabbing there was first an altercation inside a Paro club, where a live show was taking place.
The witness recalled that during the performance, an argument broke out between an individual and around 15 to 16 young men from Paro. Despite attempts by people inside the club to defuse the situation, the group allegedly beat Smogs member, Kalden, on the club floor.
The eyewitness said rapper Cutie of Smogs who was performing at the time, repeatedly appealed over the microphone for calm and asked the crowd not to create problems. However, the group reportedly became aggressive and even used physical force against club security personnel.
The eyewitness said that fearing the situation could escalate further, police were called. By the time police personnel arrived, the Paro group had left the club. The incident led to the club closing earlier than scheduled.
Believing the matter had ended there, the eyewitness left the area, only to learn the following day that a stabbing had occurred later that night.
He said that before the stabbing, there were more than 20 young men involved altogether, including the eventual victim and the two Smog members.
A member from the Smogs group said rapper Cutie had previously declined show offers in Paro due to concerns over disturbances. This Smogs member and Cutie’s mother both claimed, Cutie accepted the invitation after assurances from the eventual victim that no problems would arise.
However, during the performance, the altercation involving Kalden and a group from Paro reportedly broke out.
The Smogs member claimed that Cutie and Kalden later turned themselves in on Sunday 21st December.
Cutie’s mother, who said she accompanied her son to Paro on the night of the show, provided her account of events before the main incident.
She said her son sought her permission before agreeing to perform, but she had initially advised him against it, citing past problems during shows in Paro and limited financial returns.
According to her, her son later told her that the ultimate victim who later got stabbed had apologized and assured him there would be no issues this time.
Reluctantly, she agreed, on the condition that he return home immediately after the performance.
She said her son left early to prepare the sound setup and remained on video call with her. She also shared that she requested the organizer to restrict the presence of her son’s friend Kalden, as she felt it would create tensions in Paro.
She said she and her companions arrived in Paro around 10:30 pm and later stepped out for dinner, returning to the venue around 1 am. While at a nearby restaurant, she heard shouting that a fight had broken out inside the club.
By the time she returned, the altercation had already been resolved and the show had been stopped.
She said she took her son, Cutie, outside and urged him to leave Paro immediately.
She further shared that her son received repeated phone calls from the current victim, allegedly provoking him to a dual fight after the club incident. Fearing further trouble, she said she placed her son in a friend’s vehicle and told them to drive straight back to Thimphu.
Later, she heard reports that a fight had occurred resulting in someone losing a finger. She said she was unaware at the time that her son might be involved, until she received a call from Paro police the next day asking questions about his involvement.
She shared that if her son had intended to fight, he could have done so earlier when the altercation erupted inside the club, but instead he had tried to calm the situation. She alleged that the victim and his friends may have premeditated the fight due to resentment over her son’s rising popularity.
Victim’s family speaks
The mother of the stabbed individual said her son has undergone multiple surgeries and remains under medical care. She shared that his first surgery was unsuccessful, necessitating a second operation.
She said that initially, his ring finger was completely severed during the incident, while two other fingers were stitched. Following complications, those two fingers also had to be amputated during the second surgery.
The family said they are emotionally distressed and not in a position to share further details on friday evening.
However, another family member said that the victim is not directly involved in the altercation at the club and had left the club afterwards.
The family said that whatever the reason maybe, using a weapon should not have been the last resort and if their son had instigated the fight earlier, they should have reported it and let the law handle it, rather than taking the law in their own hands.
Late on Friday night, after this paper had already been sent for printing, the family of the stabbing victim spoke up and strongly refuted claims linking their nephew (the victim) to the altercation inside the Paro club on the night of the incident, stating that neither he nor his friends were involved in the confrontation.
According to the family, their nephew’s only prior contact with rapper Cutie, was made at the request of the show organizer. They said the nephew had reached out to Cutie via Messenger solely to obtain his contact number in relation to organizing the performance in Paro. and that also to give it to the organizer.
The family maintained that their nephew was not part of the fight inside the club and did not participate in any violence. They said he had merely offered a goodwill warning to Cutie during the commotion, advising him to restrain his friend Kalden from engaging in fights, as the Paro youths involved could retaliate violently.
The family alleged that during the show, Cutie announced their nephew’s nickname over the microphone, accusing him of “overdoing it”.
Following this, the nephew and one of his friends left the club and went to another venue. Later, while attempting to return home, the two decided to leave the second club. On their way, they noticed another disturbance near the 24/7 store area. As they proceeded to retrieve their bike to head home, the family said their nephew and his friend were ambushed.
According to the nephew’s account of the incident shared by the family, two vehicles suddenly stopped in front of them, after which several individuals including Cutie and Kalden allegedly rushed towards them wielding weapons. Sensing imminent danger, the nephew shouted to his friend to run, and the two fled in different directions. The nephew was caught and, the family alleges, stabbed multiple times not only by the two main suspects but also by others who were present.
After the attack, the nephew reportedly shouted for help. Two passersby who witnessed the incident also raised alarm. The injured nephew then requested them to call his parents, but fearing their own involvement, the passersby instead contacted the police directly using the nephew’s phone.
Addressing reports that their nephew had contacted Cutie after the club incident, the family clarified that the call was made only to state clearly that he was not involved in the earlier fight. They also denied any connection between their nephew and the viral video titled “Smogs got Smoked,” stating that the individual who recorded the video and his associates have already been arrested by police.
The family provided details of the severity of the injuries sustained. They said the nephew suffered multiple stab wounds, requiring 18 stitches to his foot, eight stitches to his back, and five stitches above his left eyebrow. His left index finger was completely severed, while the right thumb and middle finger were partially cut, with the middle finger “barely hanging.” The initial surgery reportedly lasted 12 hours.
The mother had said a total of three fingers were amputated after the second surgery.
The family said their nephew continues to undergo treatment and remains traumatised by the incident.
RBP speaks
Police, meanwhile, said the case is still under investigation and that they are yet to conclusively determine who is a victim and who is a suspect in the case itself.
According to police, an initial brawl took place inside the club involving Kalden and four individuals from Paro, while the stabbing occurred hours later after the show had ended.
Police confirmed that the individual chased in the viral video is a member of “Smogs” and that those chasing the Smogs member were also linked to the earlier altercation at the show.
Police said that a total of 12 individuals have been arrested so far, five from Paro and seven associated with the Smogs rapper group, including those seen in the viral footage.
Police clarified that the term “surrender” for Kalden and Cutie is inaccurate, as they had gone into hiding for several days before being taken into custody following information from known sources.
Police also stated that neither the person who carried out the stabbing nor the person stabbed was rapper Cutie.
They added that the altercation stemmed from disputes between individuals on both sides rather than organized group clashes.
As the investigation continues, police say further details on how the stabbing occurred will be established once all evidence and statements are fully examined.
This paper will get the statements from the stabbing victim when he is able to give a statement.
The case is still under police investigation with contradicting claims from both sides.
