Viral image of police dragging woman is not linked to farmers protest

Netizens are calling out the Chandigarh police for treating civilians in an inhumane way. The image is viral with hashtag farmers protest.

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Fact Check:

This claim is false.

NewsMeter conducted a reverse image search on Google and found the same picture in an article published by The Tribune on August 7, 2015. The article states that cops lathi-charged farmers in Patiala, Punjab when they opposed the district administration's move to take control of Panchayat land. Farmers clash with police over panchayat land, 12 injured: The Tribune India

Another article by the Hindustan Times from 2015 (same date as The Tribune) reads: "Twelve farmers and three cops were injured when the police resorted to lathi-charge at Hariaua village near here on Thursday."

According to the HT reports, the block development and panchayat officer (BDPO) tried to take possession of houses as per the orders of Punjab and Haryana high court. The court had directed the administration to take control of the panchayat land illegally occupied and tilled by some farmers. The police also fired teargas shells and beat up farmers to take control of the situation. More than 20 farmers including women were detained.

On June 26, 2021, visuals showed a large number of farmers pushing barricades in Haryana Panchkula as they marched towards the Governor's residence in Chandigarh to submit a memorandum seeking repeal of the farm laws.

It should be noted that farmers have been protesting against the three controversial farm laws since March 2020. The viral image is from 2015. It is clear that it is not linked to the farmer's protest.

Hence, the claim is false.