DigitEye India Fact Checkers
A video just on the sidelines of voting in West Bengal has gone viral with a claim that a Hindu boy is being thrashed by a group of men. It claimed that the boy had hoisted a flag of BJP on top of his house in West Bengal. The video was widely shared online and just before the final phase of Lok Sabha elections on May 19.
This is the position of Hindus in West Bengal. This Hindu boy hoisted saffron flag atop his house.
Forwarded by LT Col Dilip Kumar Havanur.
The day is not too far every Hindu crusified like this boy.
Share it maximum to reach every Hindu. pic.twitter.com/X941quhLKH— mallesham gonda (@malleshamgonda) May 16, 2019
It was shared by one Mallesham Gonda @malleshamgonda on May 16 with a caption that read: “This is the position of Hindus in West Bengal. This Hindu boy hoisted saffron flag atop his house.”
It was forwarded by LT Col Dilip Kumar Havanur again claiming, “The day is not too far every Hindu crusified (crucified) like this boy. Share it maximum to reach every Hindu.”
Another tweet asked West Bengal Chief Minister to take action and clarify her stand.
Auntie you know TMC did it. Have courage to call out. TMC action on a Hindu boy who hoisted saffron flag atop his house in WB.Forwarded by LT Col Dilip Kumar Havanur.The day is not too far when every Hindu is crucified like this boy.Courtsey auntie
https://t.co/uGPeoQtUQs— Chowkidar Deshbhakt ?? (@Deshbha95259164) May 16, 2019
When Digiteye India team searched Youtube for the video with several strings, the following video that was originally uploaded in March 2018 belonging to a Deoria in Uttar Pradesh surfaced and the boy was identified as Shamshad Mohammed.
The news report was published in local newspapers and even ANI had covered the news. The incident was about the victim who had lent Rs 1,500 to one Nasir Ansari and both had a tiff over it. Soon Nasir and his friends assaulted Shamshad at an isolated place in Deoria. See original news coverage by ANI below:
Deoria: Miscreants tied youth to a tree & thrashed him after he asked them for the money lent by him. Video of the incident went viral, Police took cognizance & arrested one accused, say, ‘Main accused arrested, 4 others in video have been identified & are absconding.'(28.3) pic.twitter.com/1IjLIm4rtw
— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 30, 2018
The video that was already debunked by fact checkers failed to die and made its appearance repeatedly, this time just three days before the Lok Sabha election last phase in West Bengal.
Conclusion: The video was shared with the aim of misrepresenting facts and to create fear and suspicion among the Hindus. Our rating is ??? Misrepresentation.
