A video showing a man repeatedly chanting Jai Shri Ram while being confronted and assaulted by a mob outside a temple has gone viral on social media. In the clip, some men and a woman can be seen thrashing him with sticks. The video has been shared with claims that a Muslim man was targeted without reason. However, reports reveal that the individual, identified as Dilip, a Hindu, began chanting Jai Shri Ram when surrounded. Locals in Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh, accused him of desecrating a religious site and paraded him in response.
Sharing the video on X (Formerly Twitter) @MohammedYo85281 wrote. “@amjedmbt Forcebly Asking Muslim to chant JSR in Andhra Pradesh Bheemavaram”.
@amjedmbt Forcebly Asking Muslim to chant JSR in Andhra Pradesh Bheemavaram pic.twitter.com/8q1yea1LI3
— Mohammed Yousufuddin (@MohammedYo85281) November 1, 2024
Propaganda account @ItsKhan_Saba also shared the video and wrote, “Bheemavaram, Andhra Pradesh: A Muslim man was beaten and forcibly made to chant jai shri ram by a group of people including woman in Andhra Pradesh’s Bheemavaram. A cop can also be seen in the video.”
#Bheemavaram, Andhra Pradesh: A Muslim man was beaten and forcibly made to chant jai shri ram by a group of people including woman in Andhra pradesh's Bheemavaram.
— Saba Khan (@ItsKhan_Saba) November 2, 2024
A cop can also be seen in the video. pic.twitter.com/MPSFwvDnXy
Several other Influencers and propagandists have also shared the video and made similar claims. Their posts can be seen here, @HateDetectors (2), @infomubashir, @TheObserverPost, @doamuslims, @doamuslimsbn2
Multiple Right-wing users, influencers and propagandists have also shared the video with communal claims. Their posts can be seen here, @MeghUpdates, @ssaratht
The truth about the viral video from Andhra Pradesh, Fact Check
As soon as the posts containing the video and claims came to our notice. Subsequently, we conducted research and analysis of the video and found that the incident was not related to a religious hate crime against a Muslim individual.
To verify the claims made by the users. We performed a reverse image search of some key frames from the viral video using Google Lens. This led us to a media report containing the same visuals. According to the media report, a man suspected of trying to desecrate the Andhra Pradesh temple was beaten by locals. However, the report didn’t mention the religious identity of the individual.
Man Suspected Of Trying To Desecrate Andhra Pradesh Temple Beaten By Locals pic.twitter.com/f8hXDvvPZJ
— NDTV (@ndtv) November 1, 2024
During our research, we found a statement regarding the incident on West Godavari District Police’s Twitter (X) account. Responding to a user, the police said, “Already Case has been Registered in Bhimavaram 2 Town Police station Cr No.268/2024 Further Investigation in the process”.
Already Case has been Registered in Bhimavaram 2 Town Police station Cr No.268/2024 Further Investigation in the process pic.twitter.com/BmXwMm2y6D
— West Godavari District Police (@Police_WG) November 2, 2024
Furthermore, after fact-checking, we ran a relevant keyword search and found a detailed report about the incident on “the federal. According to the report, the man was identified as Dilip, who lives in Ravulapalem, East Godavari district. He has lost his mind and is wandering around the village. For the past three years, he has been collecting papers and empty water bottles on the roadside in Bhimavaram.
Therefore, verified sources confirm that the man was not from the Muslim community and that he was not beaten without reason. Also, he was not forced to chant religious slogans.
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— D-Intent Data (@dintentdata) November 3, 2024
ANALYSIS: Distorted
FACT: A video depicting a group of people physically harassing an individual and he can be heard chanting religious slogans, has been shared, claiming that a Muslim individual was targeted without any reason. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/qu4RpCDBpp
Intent
Influencers and propagandists are circulating sensitive videos with misleading claims to set their narrative based on religion.
Conclusion
Claim– A Muslim individual was beaten and forced to chant religious slogans in Bhimavaram, Andhra Pradesh.
Fact – The man was not a Muslim but Hindu, he was identified as Dilip. Also, he was not forced to chant religious slogans.
Related Article: Victim beaten because of his identity/religion in Madhya Pradesh?
