Fact Check: Old images from Tripura, West Bengal shared with twisted claim

Social media users are sharing two images purportedly of recent violence in Tripura. Users claim Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) took out a rally in several parts of the state against attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.

By Newsmeter Network  Published on  30 Oct 2021 5:30 AM GMT
Fact Check: Old images from Tripura, West Bengal shared with twisted claim

Hyderabad: Social media users are sharing two images purportedly of recent violence in Tripura. Users claim Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) took out a rally in several parts of the state against attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.

In one of the images, cars in flames have been shown. In the second, a crowd is waving a saffron flag with `Jai Shri Ram' slogan. These are being shared along with the hashtags #TripuraRiots and #SaveTripuraMuslims.

The photos are being shared with the claim, in Hindi. "ये तस्वीर तालिबान का नही बल्कि लोकतांत्रिक देश भारत का है!" reads the caption.

(Translation: These photos are not from the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, these are from India.)

Click here to view the archive of the post.


A similar post can be seen here.

Archived link: https://perma.cc/CK8W-6H4D

Fact Check:

The claim is false.

NewsMeter, with the help of Google reverse image search, found out that the first picture is from Tripura, but it is not about the violence that happened in October. The second photo is from Kolkata.

Searching further, we found an article by News18 published on September 8.


The image was credited to the news agency Press Trust of India (PTI) and the caption read, "Vehicles in flames after clashes between BJP supporters and CPI (M) activists in Agartala on Sep 8, 2021 (sic)."

'The Quint' also reported about the violence in Tripura on September 8. Amid clashes between BJP and CPI (M) supporters in different parts of the state including Agartala, 10 people were injured. Two-party offices were damaged and at least six vehicles were set ablaze.

For the second image in which the crowd is seen waving flags, the team performed a Google reverse image search that led us to an article by Hindustan Times on March 27, 2018. It carried the same image and it was credited to HT photographer Samir Jana and the caption read, "VHP supporters take out a religious procession to celebrate Ram Navami in Jadavpur area in Kolkata on 25 March 2018 (sic)."

As per The Quint, at least three people had died in clashes that broke out in parts of West Bengal during Ram Navami processions in 2018.

Hence, the claim is false. Unrelated photos are being shared as recent violence in Tripura.

Claim Review:Images show recent violence in Tripura.
Claimed By:Social Media Users
Claim Reviewed By:Newsmeter
Claim Source:Social Media
Claim Fact Check:False
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