A few days ago, misleading information surfaced on social media, claiming that a recent incident in Moga, Punjab, involved the molestation of a Dalit girl. These claims, propagated by Pakistan-based accounts, such as @SAHR_Watch, have sparked outrage and sparked caste-based tensions. However, a fact-check reveals that this incident is not recent, and the victim does not belong to the Dalit community. The incident in question occurred in August 2022, and actions have been taken against the accused.
Alarming reports of human rights violations continue to emerge in India, with a recent incident in Moga underscoring the urgent need for action. A horrifying episode unfolded as three youths allegedly molested and attempted to rape a Scheduled Caste girl, pic.twitter.com/6b3EqznYTH
— South Asian Human Rights Watch (@SAHR_Watch) September 30, 2023
The True Facts about the incident from Moga, Punjab allegedly involving a Dalit girl.
The incident under scrutiny took place on August 12, 2022. A case was registered against the survivor’s friend, Jatin Kanda, and two others under Sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Contrary to the misleading claims of the incident in Moga, Punjab, the survivor does not belong to the Dalit community. The incident involved a 25-foot fall, leading to the survivor suffering fractures in her jaw, hands, and legs as she resisted an alleged rape attempt.
Two of the accused arrested in connection with this incident were identified as Jatin Kanda from Moga and Ramandeep Singh from Sangrur. The third accused was a 17-year-old resident of Moga. All three accused are currently in police custody and will be presented in court soon. This incident is unrelated to caste, and the survivor is receiving medical treatment at the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital in Ludhiana, where she is in stable condition. To know more about the story, click to read an article by Dainik Bhaskar and Hindustan Times.
The Intent Behind Misinformation & The Conclusion
The misinformation regarding the alleged molestation of a Dalit girl in Moga, Punjab, has been widely circulated on social media. Pakistan-based propaganda accounts have been instrumental in spreading this false narrative, creating unnecessary panic and division. The dissemination of this misleading information, especially with claims of caste-based violence, is an example of propaganda aimed at sowing discord and hatred in India.
In conclusion, the recent circulation of old news about an incident in Moga, Punjab, involving a girl’s molestation with false casteist claims is a deliberate attempt to spread misinformation and incite hatred. The fact-check has clarified that this incident occurred in August 2022, and the victim does not belong to the Dalit community. It is crucial to be aware of such misleading narratives and verify information before jumping to conclusions. Following a precise analysis and fact-checking, our team has reviewed the claim. You can refer to the findings of this inquiry in the Twitter thread below.
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— D-Intent Data (@dintentdata) October 4, 2023
ANALYSIS: Misleading
FACT: Pakistan-based Propaganda accounts circulating an old video of a girl, claiming that recently a Dalit girl was molested and attempted to rape in Moga, Punjab. The fact is that this is old news from Moga which has no caste angle, (1/3) pic.twitter.com/jzTAKCIDlC
Claim: A Dalit girl was molested in Moga, Punjab, recently.
Fact: Misleading. This incident is from August 2022, and the victim does not belong to the Dalit community. The incident is unrelated to caste-based issues.
