Fact Check: Telangana Police cleaning mosque under SBA shared with communal WB twist
An image of policemen is widely being shared on social media. It is being claimed that the photo is of West Bengal and Mamata Banerjee is getting the mosque cleaned for the Namaz by the police officials.
By Tejal Sinha Published on 16 Nov 2021 9:18 AM IST
Hyderabad: An image of policemen is widely being shared on social media. It is being claimed that the photo is of West Bengal and Mamata Banerjee is getting the mosque cleaned for the Namaz by the police officials.
"How many sisters and daughters were raped during elections in Bengal, how many houses were demolished? How many Sanatani brothers cried tears of blood... Look at the mentality of Bengal. Jihadi will offer Namaz, Kafir will clean the mess. If this is the condition of the police then what will happen to the common Kafir. Vote in such a way that sisters and daughters are safe," reads the caption.
Fact Check
The claim is False.
With the help of Tineye, NewsMeter performed a Reverse Image Search. We found that this image has been being shared on social media since 2017. The image also included a text that read, "Hyderabad Police on duty forced to clean Mosque on Eid by sweeping & washing to please Muslims. Secularism?"
The team then performed a keyword search which led us to a Facebook page of News Telangana dated June 18, 2016. The team found the viral image. The post had further stated that the Bhainsa police officials took the initiative to clean Panjesha Masjid.
Taking a cue from this, the fact check team tried contacting a number which was of a person named Abdul Wajid that was available on the website of Panjesha Masjid. However, the team could not connect with him. We will be updating the report once the team gets in touch with Abdul Wajid.
The team then had a close observation of the viral image and noticed a banner that read 'SK Toys'. On searching for the shop, the team was directed to the information that was available on the website of Just dial. According to the information on the website, the complete name of the shop was 'Sk Toys World & Gift Novelty' which is quite close to Panjesha Masjid.
The team lastly found a Facebook post by the Telangana State Police on June 20, 2016, that read, "The DSP Bhainsa, CI Mudhole, SIs Tanoor, Lokeshwaram & Mudhole conducted Swatch Bharath program and cleaned the Temples and Mosques and planted saplings at Mudhole."
It is therefore evident that the claim is False. A 2016 image of Telangana Police cleaning a mosque as a part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (SBA) is being shared as being recent and of West Bengal.
