Fact Check: Video of crowd vandalizing petrol pump not linked to recent fuel hike
A video of people vandalizing a petrol pump has gone viral on social media with the claim that the people were angry about the recent hike in petrol prices.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 4 July 2021 1:49 PM GMT
Hyderabad: A video of people vandalizing a petrol pump has gone viral on social media with the claim that the people were angry about the recent hike in petrol prices.
One Twitter user shared the video and tweeted, "In Ravan's rule, the angry public has started giving a patient answer to the rising prices of petrol. We strongly condemn it." (translated)
Fact Check
The claim is misleading.
NewsMeter performed a reverse image search and found the same video on the YouTube channel of an Odisha news organization 'Kanak News'. The video, posted in September 2018, was titled, "Ruckus In Petrol Pump In Puri Over Cheap Quality of Petrol".
The same incident was also reported by Odisha Exclusive in 2018. It said the video shows a ruckus at a petrol pump in Puri (Odisha) over cheap quality petrol.
According to Odisha TV, the police lathicharged locals who allegedly ransacked a filling station near Medical Chhak (Puri) accusing it of stealing fuel. A customer had asked one of the petrol pump staff for a litre of petrol in a jar. However, the petrol measured only 650 ml. This led to a disagreement between the staff and the customer. Later, a few locals present at the spot also joined the argument and allegedly ransacked the fuel dispensers and other property of the petrol pump.
The same was also reported by Daily Hunt and Odisha Bytes. The petrol pump situated in Medical Chhak was allegedly vandalized when the worker of the petrol pump tricked a customer by not filling the vehicle tank with the required amount of fuel against the money paid. The public gathered around and even hurled eggs at the petrol pump.
The viral video is from an incident that took place in Puri, Odisha, in 2018 where the public vandalized a local petrol pump after allegations of petrol stealing. It is in no way linked to the current hike in fuel prices. Hence, the claim is misleading.
