Fact Check: Kumbh Mela train attacked by anti-Hindu elements in Delhi? Find the truth here

Hyderabad: A video showing a group of young men smashing train windows has been circulating on social media. It is being shared with the claim that ‘anti-Hindu elements’ attacked a train carrying devotees returning from the Kumbh Mela in Delhi.

A Facebook user shared the video in Kannada, which translates to English as: “When the Swatantra Sainani Express train arrived in Delhi, filled with Hindus was returning from the Kumbh Mela, anti-Hindu elements shattered its windows!!! Who could it be? Guess for yourself. Remember the incident where the coach carrying Kar Sevaks returning from Ayodhya was set on fire, burning them alive.”

By referencing Ayodhya, the user insinuates that the attackers belonged to the Muslim community.

Fact Check

NewsMeter found the claim false. The video shows vandalism at Bihar’s Madhubani railway station, where the public forcibly tried to board a jam-packed train.

A reverse image search led to the same visuals of young men smashing a train’s window in a video report published by the YouTube channel Aadhan Hindi on February 11. The report stated that the incident took place at Bihar’s Madhubani Railway Station, where thousands of devotees travelling to the Kumbh Mela were unable to board the Swatantrata Senani Express arriving from Jaynagar and heading to New Delhi. Frustrated by the situation, many resorted to vandalism, smashing windows and forcibly attempting to board the train.

We also found similar visuals in a video report published by News18 Rajasthan on February 11. The channel reported that frustrated devotees travelling to the Kumbh Mela vandalised the Swatantrata Senani Superfast Express at Bihar’s Madhubani and Samastipur railway stations. Passengers smashed the glass window panes of several AC coaches while attempting to board the train, creating chaos. According to the report, the windows of around 12 AC coaches were shattered, and some passengers sustained minor injuries.

For corroboration, we closely examined the viral clip along with video reports from Aadhan Hindi and News18 Rajasthan. Our analysis confirmed the presence of a board on the train’s coaches indicating that it was travelling from Jaynagar to New Delhi.

Building on these leads, we conducted a keyword search and found a report by NDTV featuring a video showing the train’s windows completely shattered. According to the report, as the Swatantrata Senani Superfast Express, travelling from Bihar’s Jaynagar to New Delhi via Prayagraj, arrived at Madhubani Railway Station, a large crowd of passengers heading to the Maha Kumbh in Uttar Pradesh vandalised the train after being unable to board. Frustrated passengers threw stones at the train, shattering the windows of the AC compartments and causing panic among those inside.

The report also mentioned that most of the passengers, both waiting outside and seated inside the train, were travelling to Prayagraj for the Maha Kumbh Mela.

The Hindu, The Indian Express and The Times of India also reported that on the night of February 10, a group of angry passengers attempting to reach the Maha Kumbh Mela attacked the Swatantrata Senani Express at Bihar’s Madhubani Railway Station. Frustrated over being unable to board the train, they resorted to stone pelting and shattered its windows.

Therefore, we conclude the claim of anti-Hindu elements vandalising a train carrying devotees returning from the Kumbh Mela in Delhi is false.