A video circulating online depicts the assault and humiliation of an elderly bearded man and has been misleadingly presented as a religion-based hate crime targeting a Muslim individual in India. However, D-Intent Data has found that the viral video was from Bangladesh and shows an assault over political issues.
Sharing the video on X (Formerly Twitter) propagandist account @chandnii__ wrote. “Whoever this coward is, he is a very low and fallen person. How he is beating an elderly Muslim, he broke his glasses. He did not see the beard and cap and the devil inside him woke up. #AllEyesOnIndianMuslim”. (Translated from Hindi)
Another propaganda account @MR_COOL77777 has also shared the video and wrote, The beard of an old Muslim man was pulled and he was slapped and his cap was taken off his head… This particular community has gone mad” (Translated from Hindi)
Several other users, influencers and propagandists have also shared the video and made similar communal claims. Their posts can be seen here, @Bernadotte22, @common000786Om, @karishma_aziz97
The truth about the viral video from Bangladesh, Fact Check
As soon as the posts containing the video of a man assaulting an elderly bearded individual came to our notice. Subsequently, we conducted research and analysis of the video and found that the video was not related to India, but it shows political workers involved in a dispute in Bangladesh.
To verify the claims made by the users. We performed a reverse image search of some key frames from the viral video on Google Lens. This led us to media reports containing the same visuals. According to the media reports(1, 2), this video shows Shaon Molla, son of former district BNP president Mahabubul Alam Farooq Molla, assaulting Abdur Rashid Mia, former commander and Awami League worker.
Therefore, it is evident from D-Intent Data’s Fact Check that the video was not from India. But it was from Bangladesh. Also, it doesn’t show religion-based hate crime as the accused and victim belonged to the same community.
Intent
Social media users, influencers and propagandists are circulating sensitive videos from Bangladesh unrest with misleading claims to set their narrative based on religion in India.
Conclusion
Claim– The viral video shows religion-based hate crimes against Muslim individuals in India.
Fact– The video was not from India but an incident from Bangladesh involving two individuals from the Muslim community.
