Video of clash between two Durga puja committees given communal twist

Hyderabad: A video of a group of men pelting stones and attacking a vehicle carrying loudspeakers and lights is being shared with the claim that Hindus were attacked in Sadar Bazar, Bilaspur with swords and sticks while on their way to immerse the idols of goddess Durga.

Social media users who shared the video also claimed that this has happened for the first time in the history of Bilaspur. (Archive)

Click here, here and here to see the posts.

Fact Check

NewsMeter ran a keyword search to find out if any such incident took place in Bilaspur and if it was reported by the media. We found a Times Now article from 7 October that carried a screenshot of the viral video. It reported that a clash broke out in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh between members of two Durga puja committees over which party would go first for the immersion.

ANI had reported that the incident occurred in the Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh. It said the two groups which clashed are part of the tableaus of two different Durga pandal committees.

On 7 October, ANI tweeted the same video and said, "Clash broke out between 2 groups during Goddess Durga idol immersion in Sadar Bazar, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh."

Speaking to ANI, additional superintendent of police (ASP) Rajendra Jaiswal said, "Scuffle broke out between members of two Durga puja committees over which party would go for immersion first. Suspects are in police custody, interrogation is going on. Action will be taken against the accused."

It is evident that the scuffle in the viral video broke out between members of two Durga puja committees in Bilaspur over idol immersion. Hence, the claim that Hindus were attacked by members of other communities is false.