Two girls are shown being harassed by a group of young men in a shared video.The video has been circulated with the unfounded rumour that men from minority communities in West Bengal are kidnapping and harassing Hindu girls.
The video got circulated with misleading claims in May 2023. @ManojSr60583090 tweeted “*West Bengal* *Heartbreaking scene* *by Muslim youth* *with Dalit Hindu girls* *This is happening every day* *Tomorrow it could be your city, state or even your street* * It may even stop* *If power, Yogiji, Hemant Biswa* *As if in the hands of strong leaders* ” on May 12, 2023. The tweet has received an about more than 5k views on X.
*पश्चिम बंगाल*
— Manoj Srivastava (@ManojSr60583090) May 11, 2023
*दिल दहला देने वाला दृश्य*
*मुस्लिम युवकों द्वारा*
*दलित हिन्दू बच्चियों के साथ*
*ये प्रतिदिन हो रहा है*
*कल ये आपके शहर, राज्य या गली मोहल्लो भी हो सकता है*
*ये रुक भी सकता है*
*अगर सत्ता, योगीजी, हेमंत बिस्वा*
*जैसे मज़बूत नेताओं के हाथों में हो* pic.twitter.com/GyHuzholo9
Several other accounts, including @PankajPandit_, @RichaGotham made the same claim that Dalit Hindu girls got harassed by Muslims in West Bengal in the video. The archive can be read from above.
The video once again got viral during Feb 2024. @ajaychauhan41 tweeted “This is the condition of our Hindu women in West Bengal, when the Chief Minister of the state, Mamata Banerjee is a woman herself, it is very unfortunate. In the greed of vote-bank, illegal Rohingyas and Bangladeshis have destroyed West Bengal.” on Feb 14, 2024.
यह पश्चिम बंगाल में हमारी हिंदू महिलाओं की स्थिति है, जबकि प्रदेश की मुख्यमंत्री ममता बनर्जी स्वयं एक महिला हैं हैं, यह बहुत दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण है।
— हम लोग We The People 🇮🇳 (@ajaychauhan41) February 14, 2024
वोट-बैंक के लालच में अवैध रोहिंग्या और बांग्लादेशियों ने पश्चिम बंगाल को तबाह कर दिया है pic.twitter.com/oJHEU3iCoI
Several other accounts, including @RealBababanaras made the same claim that the video shows a Hindu women being harassed in West Bengal. The user added “This is the condition of our Hindu women in West Bengal, while the Chief Minister of the state, Mamata Banerjee is herself a woman.”. The archive can be read from above.
What is the Actual Truth About this Incident? : Fact
After some investigation, we discovered that this is an old footage from Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, where in May 2017, two girls were seen being publicly molested by a group of young men. Strict measures were implemented towards the accused. It is not related to West Bengal.
@rampurpolice tweeted “4 accused related to the said indictment. Shahnawaz, Saddam, Danish, Farman were taken into custody, efforts continue to arrest the remaining accused.” on May 29, 2017.
उक्त अभियोग से सम्बंधित 4 अभि. शाहनवाज,सद्दाम,दानिश, फरमान को गि.कर लिया गया,शेष अभियुक्तगणों की गिरफ्तारी के प्रयास जारी
— Rampur police (@rampurpolice) May 29, 2017
The official account of @rampurpolice tweeted “Police station Tanda @rampurpolice 8 accused arrested in molestation case @igzonebareilly @digmoradabad @pilibhitpolice ” on May 30, 2017.
थाना टांडा @rampurpolice छेड़छाड़ मामले में 8 अभियुक्त गिफ्तार @igzonebareilly @digmoradabad @pilibhitpolice pic.twitter.com/Iz8XN5mlfE
— Rampur police (@rampurpolice) May 30, 2017
It was found by the @rampurpolice that there are 9 accused in the molestation case. The tweet was made on May 30, 2017.
थाना टांडा @rampurpoliceछेड़छाड़ मामले में 9वां आरोपी गि. #uppolice @igzonebareilly @digmoradabad @SamarSaleel @_NationalVoice @bijnorpolice
— Rampur police (@rampurpolice) May 30, 2017
The @rampurpolice further tweeted “In the effective action of police station Tanda @rampurpolice 11 accused were arrested and sent to jail @igzonebareilly @digmoradabad” to confirm the action taken by the police in the molestation case. The tweet was made on May 31, 2017.
थाना टांडा @rampurpolice की प्रभावी कार्यवाही में 11 अभियुक्तों को गिफ्तार कर जेल भेजा @igzonebareilly @digmoradabad pic.twitter.com/LAxjrOKjAO
— Rampur police (@rampurpolice) May 31, 2017
Finally, on May 31, 2017, @rampurpolice confirmed that 12 accused were arrested in this molestation case.
थाना टांडा @rampurpolice द्वारा छेड़छाड़ मामले में 12वां आरोपी गिरफ्तार #uppolice @igzonebareilly@digmoradabad @bijnorpolice@pilibhitpolice
— Rampur police (@rampurpolice) May 31, 2017
Several tweets were also made by the UP Police regarding this incident. @Uppolice tweeted “Rampur Incident Update #uppolice” and confirmed that the accused were arrested after this incident on May 28, 2017.
Rampur Incident Update #uppolice pic.twitter.com/Oc3UyP7Kol
— UP POLICE (@Uppolice) May 28, 2017
Further on May 29, 2017, @Uppolice tweeted “#Rampur incident update~Total 4 arrested till now .1-Shahnawaz 2-Saddam 3- Danish 4- Farman. Gonda Act shall be imposed on t molestors.”.
#Rampur incident update~Total 4 arrested till now .1-Shahnawaz 2-Saddam 3- Danish 4- Farman. Gonda Act shall be imposed on t molestors.
— UP POLICE (@Uppolice) May 29, 2017
We also visited Times of India, which published an article on this incident on May 28, 2017 with the headline “Rampur: Women molested in broad daylight”. This confirms that the claims made that this incident is from West Bengal is absolutely false.
D-Intent’s Fact-Checking Results:
683
— D-Intent Data (@dintentdata) May 14, 2023
ANALYSIS:Misleading
FACT:A video has been shared in which two girls can be seen being molested by a group of young men.The video has been shared with the false claim that Hindu girls are being abducted and harassed by men belonging to minority communities in West Bengal(1/3) pic.twitter.com/C1sovSZuAa
Intent:
Users are spreading old videos with false claims from Uttar Pradesh, claiming to be from West Bengal to create disharmony among communities in the country. A video has been shared in which two girls can be seen being molested by a group of young men.The video has been shared with the false claim that Hindu girls are being abducted and harassed by men belonging to minority communities in West Bengal. Research revealed that this is an old video from Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, where in May 2017, two girls were seen being openly molested by a group of young men. All of the accused faced severe consequences. West Bengal has nothing to do with it.
Conclusion:
Claim : A group of young men can be seen harassing two girls in a shared video. False reports circulating about the video that men from West Bengal’s minority communities are kidnapping and harassing Hindu girls.
Fact : Our investigation revealed that this is an old footage from Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, where in May 2017, two girls were seen being publicly molested by a group of young men. All those involved faced severe consequences. It is not related to West Bengal.
Also Read : Old Video Of Bangladeshi Hindu Woman From Noakhali Resurfaced With Distorted Claims: Fact-Check
