Fact Check: Video of protestors clashing with police is from Chhattisgarh not Mathura
A video of a large crowd breaking down barricades and clashing with the police reportedly in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura is going viral on social media.
By Misha Rajani Published on 11 Dec 2021 3:30 AM GMT
Hyderabad: A video of a large crowd breaking down barricades and clashing with the police reportedly in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura is going viral on social media.
The video is viral against the backdrop of heavy security being deployed in Mathura on the 29th anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolitions to avoid any untoward incidents.
Here are a few Facebook posts:
Fact Check
NewsMeter noticed that the insignia on the uniform of the policemen in the viral video is that of the Chhattisgarh police.
Taking a cue from this, we ran a search using the keywords "Chhattisgarh police protest" on Twitter and found a tweet by The Rural Press from 12 October. It had shared the same video. The tweet said the incident took place in Korba, Chhattisgarh, when members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) were protesting.
कवर्धा की घटना के विरोध में विहिप का पूरे प्रदेश में हुआ प्रदर्शन, कोरबा में प्रदर्शन के दौरान कार्यकर्ताओं की पुलिस के साथ धक्का-मुक्की हुई @KorbaDist @PoliceKorba @VHPDigital @VhpDinesh #Chhattisgarh #VHP #protest #Kawardha #Incidents #TRP #LatestNews https://t.co/Q2Czx8xqt0 pic.twitter.com/sfQU59ejtY
— The Rural Press (@theruralpress) October 12, 2021
ETV Bharat had on 12 October reported that the VHP had protested in Chhattisgarh's Kawardha area following a dispute between two communities. The protesters reached Kosabari Chowk by crossing the barricades put up in Subhash Chowk and the protest ended with the handing over of a memorandum to the additional collector.
We carefully observed the videos published by ETV Bharat and noticed that some buildings and boards were the same as shown in the viral video thus confirming that the video doing the rounds of social media is from Chhattisgarh and not Mathura.
Moreover, the Mathura police have debunked the claim. "A case has been registered against the person who posted this misleading video. Legal action is being taken. Please don't spread rumors. Help in maintaining peace," it tweeted.
.@mathurapolice
— Khalid Hussain (@khalidmfp) December 6, 2021
महोदय इन पर तत्काल रिपोर्ट दर्ज कर के इन्हें गिरफ्तार किया जाए। देश की शांति को भंग करने वाले ये देश और समाज के दुश्मन है। उत्तरप्रदेश का माहौल खराब करने का प्रयास है@Uppolice @dgpup @igrangeagra @adgzoneagra @mathurapolice @CMOfficeUP https://t.co/eu4LUnhcy2 pic.twitter.com/lzS8QA0f4k
Evidently, a video from a protest rally in Chhattisgarh is falsely being shared as protests in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh.