A video showing a group of people stopping bikers and engaging in a verbal altercation has been shared with claims that illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya Muslims in West Bengal are extorting money from Hindus/locals. However, these claims are false. The video actually depicts a group of bikers, known for making stunt videos, being confronted by locals for their reckless riding.
Sharing the video on X (Formerly Twitter) @odiahhh wrote, “The terror of #Bangladeshi Muslims in rural Bengal. Got this video from one of my Bengali Hindu friend who were forcibly stopped on a highway and extorted by these illegal bangladeshi Muslims.”
The terror of #Bangladeshi Muslims in rural Bengal. Got this video from one of my Bengali Hindu friend who were forcibly stopped on a highway and extorted by these illegal bangladeshi Muslims. pic.twitter.com/DVqUQBlapi
— कलिंग ବୀର (@odiahhh) November 10, 2024
Serial fake news peddler and propagandist account @FrontalForce also shared the video and wrote. “Illegal Bangladeshi immigrants are extorting money on highways in West Bengal. Where are we heading?”
Illegal Bangladeshi immigrants are extorting money on highways in West Bengal. Where are we heading?pic.twitter.com/jBveY3jzKJ
— Frontalforce 🇮🇳 (@FrontalForce) November 10, 2024
Several other users, influencers and propagandists have also shared the video and made similar claims. Their posts can be seen here, @RealBababanaras, @ocjain4, @KreatelyMedia, @jpsin1, @Bhupidevv, @SinghPramod2784.
The truth about the viral video, 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 video was not related to money extortion involving Hindu victims.
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 YouTube video containing the same visuals.
The video actually shows a group of bikers, known for making stunt videos, being confronted by locals for riding recklessly. We located the full video on a YouTube channel “Pradhan Rider 0.1” (one of the bikers), where they address each other by names like Wasim, Karim, and Masoom, and the bikes are registered under Muslim names.
There is no evidence to suggest any extortion. According to the YouTubers, they encountered some locals who challenged them during the ride. The video also includes a disclaimer about their riding skills.
Therefore, it is evident from D-Intent Data’s Fact Check that the video was not related to money extortion from Hindu people.
2635
— D-Intent Data (@dintentdata) November 10, 2024
ANALYSIS: Misleading
FACT: A video showing a group of people stopping bikers and engaging in a verbal altercation has been shared with claims that illegal Bangladeshi Muslims in West Bengal are extorting money from Hindus/locals. These claims are completely false. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/cf5Q5tS1D0
2635
— D-Intent Data (@dintentdata) November 10, 2024
ANALYSIS: Misleading
FACT: A video showing a group of people stopping bikers and engaging in a verbal altercation has been shared with claims that illegal Bangladeshi Muslims in West Bengal are extorting money from Hindus/locals. These claims are completely false. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/cf5Q5tS1D0
Intent
Influencers are circulating videos from West Bengal with misleading claims to set their narrative based on religion.
Conclusion
Claim– Illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingyas are extorting money from local Hindu people in West Bengal.
Fact– The video depicts a group of bikers known for making stunt videos being confronted by locals for riding recklessly.
Related Article: Fact Check: Bangladeshi Hindu man Mukund Mritunjay Das Bramhachari shot dead by the BSF attempting to enter India? – D-Intent Data
