A few days ago, social media platforms were abuzz with images of a bride and groom dressed in different attires, accompanied by a troubling claim. According to the viral posts, a Muslim youth group in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, had allegedly abducted a girl from the Jain community, leading to a series of events that included the termination of Muslim employees from Jain-owned businesses. However, upon closer examination, these claims were found to be based on misinformation, and the images themselves were not from Nellore but from a peaceful interfaith wedding in Goa. The misleading news of the interfaith wedding in Nellore was circulated by many, prominent being @bhagwakrantee.
Source and Origin of the Viral Claim
The source of this viral claim can be traced back to a collage of images depicting an interfaith wedding ceremony that combined Islamic Nikkah and Hindu traditions. The images feature Ankita and Faiz, a couple who tied the knot at the Varca Le Palms Resort and Spa in Goa. To validate the origins of these images and uncover the truth behind the claim, we conducted a Google reverse image search. This led us to two websites, www.myweddingplanning.in [archive] and mymagmoments.wordpress.com [archive], which documented the actual wedding ceremony, providing clear evidence that these images were indeed from Goa.
Nellore Police Debunked the False Claims
Contrary to the viral narrative, the Nellore Police had already addressed and debunked these false claims of this interfaith wedding back in 2019. They released a press note firmly stating that the news was entirely untrue and expressed their condemnation of the misleading information being shared. No such incident had occurred in the SPS Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh.
Sri Bhaskar Bhushan, IPS, SP Nellore, issued a stern warning against sharing unverified and provocative messages on social media platforms. He stated that individuals found spreading such rumours would face legal consequences, including criminal charges.
Conclusion of the Nellore interfaith wedding
In conclusion, the viral claims of an interfaith altercation in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, involving the Jain and Muslim communities are entirely false. The images circulated were from a peaceful interfaith wedding in Goa, and the Nellore Police had previously debunked these claims. It is evident that these false claims were concocted with the malicious intent of sowing discord between different communities. You can refer to the findings of this inquiry in the Twitter thread embedded below.
Claim: False claims circulated online suggested an interfaith conflict in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, involving the Jain and Muslim communities.
Fact: The claims were entirely false; the images were from an interfaith wedding in Goa, and Nellore Police debunked the rumours in 2019.
