In an unfortunate incident of misinformation, a video featuring a Muslim man urging a crowd not to purchase goods from a person named Chaudhary is being circulated on social media. The video has been shared with a false claim that Muslim boycott in Bangalore are boycotting purchases from Hindus.
However, a thorough investigation reveals that this video is not related to recent events but is instead an old video from Rajasthan’s Barmer district. This blog aims to provide a detailed analysis of the incident, highlighting the misleading tweets, examining the fact-checking conducted by D-Intent, and unraveling the true intent behind this dissemination of falsehoods.
Incident Description:
Amidst the backdrop of escalating communal tensions, a video began circulating on social media platforms. The video allegedly depicted a Muslim man requesting a crowd to refrain from buying anything from someone named Chaudhary. The claim attached to the video suggested that this was a deliberate act by Muslims in Bangalore, targeting Hindu businesses. However, a closer examination revealed that the video was unrelated to the current situation and had a different context altogether.
Misleading Tweets:
*In Bangalore Muslims Meetings, They Decided "Not to Buy Anything from Hindus, We have 5 Years Power, Don't Buy Petrol in Hindu Pumps, don't take medicine in Hindu Medical Shops" Because They Do Not Want to Give Business Profits to Hindus*
— 🅼🅾🅽🅺🅱🅷🅰🆁🅰🆃🅷 ®️ (@monkbharath) June 29, 2023
still… pic.twitter.com/SDXL71V70k
Several misleading tweets amplified the false narrative surrounding the video, exacerbating communal tensions and spreading disinformation. Let’s delve into the details of each tweet:
Tweet by @curlykrazy07: Link: Misleading Tweet This tweet shared the video, falsely claiming it to be evidence of Muslim boycott in Bangalore boycotting Hindu businesses, without providing any credible evidence or context to support the assertion. (archive)
Tweet by @Ashtalakshmi8: Link: Misleading Tweet Similar to the previous tweet, this user propagated the misleading video, contributing to the spread of false information without verifying its authenticity or providing relevant context. (archive)
Tweet by @MrSinha_: Link: Misleading Tweet This tweet further amplified the false claim, adding to the confusion and tensions surrounding the incident. It lacked factual basis and failed to provide any substantiated evidence. (archive)
Tweet by @ByRakeshSimha: Link: Misleading Tweet This tweet disseminated the misleading video, adding fuel to the fire of communal disharmony without verifying its accuracy or considering the potential consequences. (archive)
Tweet by @monkbharath: Link: Misleading Tweet
Tweet by @NationFirst003: Link: Misleading Tweet
Tweet by @IamNarendra10: Link: Misleading Tweet
Tweet by @trunicle: Link: Misleading Tweet
Fact-Checking by D-Intent:
1/1 उक्त वीडियो ग्राम भोजारिया पुलिस थाना बिजराड का 2019 का है। पुलिस थाना रामसर के गागरिया गांव में पेट्रोल पंप के सामने दिनांक 28.6.2019 को एक प्राइवेट बस से एक्सीडेंट होने से एक व्यक्ति की मृत्यु एवं तीन व्यक्ति घायल हो गए थे।
— Barmer Police (@Barmer_Police) March 15, 2023
D-Intent, an organization dedicated to combating misinformation, conducted a thorough fact-checking investigation to ascertain the authenticity of the viral video. They uncovered the following evidence:
Tweet by @Barmer_Police: Link: Fact-Checking Source The Barmer Police Twitter account provided information confirming that the video in question was an old video from Rajasthan’s Barmer district. It clarified that the video captured an incident from June 2019, where one person died and three were injured due to an accident involving a private bus near a petrol pump in Gagaria village.
Intent Behind the Incident:
843
— D-Intent Data (@dintentdata) July 1, 2023
ANALYSIS: Misleading
FACT: A video is being circulated on social media in which a Muslim man can be heard requesting a crowd not to buy anything from Chaudhary. The video has been shared with the claim that Muslims in Bangalore decide not to buy anything from Hindus. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/f9jtujTx0C
The intent behind circulating the old video from Rajasthan, repeatedly attaching false claims to it, was to sow seeds of communal disharmony. Propaganda accounts aimed to exploit the prevailing tensions and exacerbate divides between different religious communities. By perpetuating falsehoods, these accounts sought to undermine harmony and unity, ultimately causing societal unrest.
Conclusion:
The Muslim Boycott incident involving the circulation of an old video to stoke communal disharmony highlights the urgent need for responsible sharing and fact-checking in the digital era. Through the meticulous fact-checking efforts of D-Intent, the truth behind the video was exposed, debunking the false claims made by misleading tweets. It is crucial for individuals to exercise caution, verify information, and rely on reputable sources before amplifying content that can potentially contribute to tension and division. By staying vigilant and promoting accurate information, we can collectively combat the spread of misinformation and work towards a more informed and harmonious society.
