Old video of teachers protesting in Punjab falsely linked to Hijab row
A video of four women standing atop a water tank and burning a cloth as another woman's clothes catch fire in the process is being shared on social media.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 15 Feb 2022 10:37 AM IST
HYDERABAD: A video of four women standing atop a water tank and burning a cloth as another woman's clothes catch fire in the process is being shared on social media.
Users claim these women were protesting against the wearing of the Hijab. However, they ended up burning themselves.
The claim is circulating amid the ongoing Hijab row in Karnataka. The video is being shared with the hashtag #hijab.
FACT CHECK:
NewsMeter performed a reverse image and found the same video carried by Zee News in February 2010. According to the description, teachers were protesting against the Punjab government on top of a 100-foot-tall water tank outside the state's then education minister Upinderjit Kaur's residence. The woman immolated herself. She suffered 90 percent burns.
The same was also reported by The Indian Express. The video was shot in Kapurthala, Punjab. Five teachers climbed atop the water tank, as another group went towards the minister's residence to stage a demonstration.
An eye witness stated that the women were carrying kerosene. After reaching the top of the water tank, they began threatening to set themselves on fire if their demands were not met. The Deputy Superintendent of Police dismissed their threats as "drama". The woman then set herself on fire. Teachers attacked the officer, but he managed to escape from the spot.
NDTV also reported the incident. "As hundreds of other teachers gathered below the water tank to join the protest, Kaur sprinkled petrol and set herself on fire. This led to complete chaos and even police officials, who had gathered there, could do little to save the teacher," NDTV said.
Clearly, a 12-year-old unrelated video is being falsely shared to claim that a group of women were protesting against the Hijab.
