Fact Check: Image of protests in Srinagar not recent but from 2016
Recently in Srinagar, two policemen were killed after a terrorist fired at them. Soon after, a picture of masked....
By Newsmeter Network Published on 26 Feb 2021 6:42 PM IST
Hyderabad: Recently in Srinagar, two policemen were killed after a terrorist fired at them. Soon after, a picture of masked youths pelting stones went viral on social media with the false claim that clashes erupted at Srinagar's Batmaloo during a cordon and search operation (CASO) following the shootout.
The caption with the picture read, "FLASH. Massive Clashes Erupted During Ongoing CASO In Batmaloo Srinagar (sic)." (archive)
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the claim is misleading as the picture was taken in Batmaloo during violent protests in July 2016.
A reverse image search led to Getty Images which showed that the picture was taken on July 28, 2016, when Kashmiri protesters clashed with Indian security forces in Batmaloo. The photograph was credited to AFP photographer Tauseef Mustafa.
A similar image clicked by Tauseef Mustafa was also found.
Commander of the militant organisation Hizbul Mujahideen, Burhan Wani, was killed on July 8, 2016, following which the Valley faced its worst unrest since 2011, with at least 49 people killed and over 3,000 injured in clashes.
Hence, the claim that this image is recent is misleading as the picture was taken during violent protests in July 2016, following the death of Kashmiri terrorist Burhan Wani.
