Fact Check: Old video of Muslim shops under attack by mob in Mumbai resurfaces during Eid
Amid Eid celebrations, a video has gone viral showing Muslim shops being targeted.
By Sibahathulla Sakib Published on 17 Jun 2024 3:58 PM GMT
Claim: The video shows shops owned by Muslims being attacked and looted by Hindutva supporters on the eve of Eid celebrations.
Fact: The claim is misleading. The attacks occurred in Mumbai's Mira Road in January 2024.
Hyderabad: Amid Eid celebrations, a video has gone viral showing Muslim shops being targeted. The video depicts a shop named ‘Sabah Boutique’ being attacked by a mob waving saffron flags and shouting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ slogans.
A Facebook user has shared the video with the caption, “Shops owned by Muslims are being looted and attacked by Hindutva supporters. According to Modiji, terrorists can be identified by their clothes and slogans..!!” (Translated from Hindi) (Archive)
Similar posts can be seen here, here and here. (Archive), (Archive), (Archive)
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the claim is misleading. The video is from January.
A reverse image search traced the video to an incident on January 23, 2024, in Sector 5 of Shanti Nagar, Mira Road, Mumbai.
By using relevant keywords, we found a report from the Economic Times titled “Clashes in Mumbai’s Mira Road: Fresh bouts of violence erupt after ‘bulldozer action’ on January 23” on its YouTube channel published on January 24, 2024.
According to the report, these clashes followed a Maharashtra government bulldozer action against illegal constructions on Mira Road. A 3:05-minute video showed the original incident, including the part that went viral. The violence began during a rally ahead of the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishta ceremony in Ayodhya, leading to clashes over firecrackers.
India Today reported the incident as a communal clash following stone-pelting against the rally, with the attack on Muslims as a retaliatory action. Shamsher Alam, the shop owner, explains the incident in the video.
We also found a similar report on the YouTube channel of Middle East Eye.
Additionally, our investigation led us to a report published by The Print, “‘Not Hindu-Muslim row’: Mira Road residents say politicians changing nature of ‘peace haven’” dated January 27, 2024.
The report highlighted the political influences and changing dynamics in the area. According to local residents, Mira Road residents noted that the area, known for its peaceful coexistence between Hindus and Muslims, has recently experienced increased communal tensions. This change is attributed to provocative statements by local politicians and recent events like the bulldozer action. The Print report also mentioned that Mira Road’s Shanti Nagar and Nayanagar areas have historically been peaceful, even during the 1992-93 Mumbai riots. Residents from both communities have lived together harmoniously for decades.
On Google Maps, we geolocated the Saba Boutique seen in the video on Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Road in Shanti Nagar, Mira Road East.
The video is from an incident that occurred four months ago and is not related to recent events. Hence, the claim that it shows ongoing attacks on Muslim shops is misleading.
