Fact Check: Video of C-60 commandos is not linked to recent Gadchiroli encounter
A 30-second video is circulating widely on social media. Users claim it's related to the encounter between Naxals and Maharashtra police on November 13.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 19 Nov 2021 2:31 PM GMT
Hyderabad: A 30-second video is circulating widely on social media. Users claim it's related to the encounter between Naxals and Maharashtra police on November 13. Twenty-six rebels including top leader Milind Teltumbde were killed.
The video is accompanied by a caption that reads, "Gadchiroli encounter: Top Maoist leader Milind Teltumbde among 26 Naxals killed by Maharashtra police C-60 commandos."
Click here to view the post.
Similar posts can be seen here.
Fact Check:
The claim is false.
NewsMeter performed a keyword search 'C-60 Commandos celebrate Gadchiroli' and came across a Facebook post shared by media outlet ETV Bharat on 22 May. Into 0:17 seconds of the video, similar visuals can be seen and the caption along with the video mentioned: "After a successful encounter operation against banned outfits in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli, C-60 commandos were welcomed by officials at police district headquarters with the 'band baaja'(sic)."
We found a report by The Quint dated May 21. It said 13 Maoists were killed in an encounter in Maharasthra's Gadadchiroli district and the operation was undertaken by elite C-60 commandos, who had cracked down upon the Maoists in a camp near a village.
In the comparison of the visuals seen in the viral video and the one shared by the ETV Bharat video, we found many similar elements.
While searching more on the web, we found a tweet by Ankit Goyal, Superintendent of Police, Gadchiroli. He clarified that the viral video isn't related to the recent encounter.
Hence, the claim is false. The video of C-60 commandos being welcomed is old and not linked to the recent encounter with Naxals.
