Fact Check: Telugu vlogger attacked in North India for not speaking Hindi? No, incident occurred in Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad: A short video clip of a nighttime altercation involving a travel vlogger pleading for help has gone viral on social media. The clip is being shared with captions alleging linguistic and regional intolerance, claiming that a Telugu-speaking vlogger was attacked in North India for refusing to speak Hindi.

One X user shared the video with the caption, “An attack on our Telugu man. A vlogger with experience travelling to nearly 20 countries was attacked by people from North India because he couldn’t speak Hindi. They stole his money and beat him brutally.” (Archive) (Translated from Telugu)

A similar post can be seen here. (Archive)

Fact Check

NewsMeter found that the claim is false. The video does not show a Telugu vlogger being attacked in North India. Instead, it shows a Hindi-speaking YouTuber being assaulted in Andhra Pradesh, South India.

Where was the video shot?

One of the comments under the viral clip mentioned that the incident took place in Andhra Pradesh.

Using this lead, NewsMeter conducted a keyword search and found a report published by Moneycontrol titled “‘Extorted and assaulted’: Travel vlogger alleges attack in Andhra, video goes viral.”

According to the report, a travel vlogger running the YouTube channel Soni Traveling alleged that he was assaulted and extorted while passing through Andhra Pradesh. The video of him pleading for help late at night triggered widespread discussion on social media, with users demanding police action.

Following this, NewsMeter located the vlogger’s YouTube channel, where he had uploaded the full-length video describing the incident.

Who is the vlogger and what does the original video show?

The vlogger identified himself as Soni Traveling, a Hindi-speaking content creator.

In the full video uploaded on his YouTube channel—titled “DON'T COME SOUTH INDIA | BAD EXPERIENCE IN ANDHRA PRADESH | GOT ATTACK IN SOUTH INDIA”, he states that the incident occurred while he was hitchhiking from Vijayawada towards Chennai.

In the footage, the vlogger is heard speaking entirely in Hindi during a nighttime confrontation. A local man, whom the vlogger describes as Telugu-speaking and allegedly intoxicated, demands money from him. The situation escalates into physical assault.

The vlogger later states that he managed to escape the situation and sought help from the police. He also expressed concerns about safety and alleged hostility towards Hindi speakers in parts of South India.

What did the police say?

Police officials also confirmed that the incident occurred broadly in the manner described by the vlogger.

According to the Pedakakani (a village in Guntur, AP) police, the vlogger was initially offered a lift by a local man. After travelling together, they roamed around the nearby village areas for some time. During this period, the man, who was allegedly under the influence of alcohol, began repeatedly demanding money from the vlogger.

When the vlogger attempted to escape the situation, the man chased him and caught hold of him, following which the altercation took place. Police said they reached the apartment complex where the incident unfolded and took both individuals to Autonagar, Guntur, Pedakakani in Andhra Pradesh for inquiry.

As per the police, the other individual was counselled outside the police station and later let off. This was also confirmed by the vlogger himself in his account of the incident.

The viral claim that a Telugu vlogger was attacked in North India for not speaking Hindi is false.

The video actually shows a Hindi-speaking travel vlogger being assaulted in Andhra Pradesh.