A disturbing video showing bikers shooting an individual at point-blank range has been circulating with the claim that a Muslim man named Harris was killed in Aligarh while waiting for Sehri (the pre-dawn meal before fasting). The video has been widely shared and framed as a religious hate crime by emphasizing the victim’s religious identity. However, we found that the accused and victim belonged to the same community.
Sharing the video on X (Formerly Twitter), @TheMuslimSpaces wrote, “UP: 25-year-old Muslim youth shot dead with 7 bullets. In Aligarh, a youth named Haris was ambushed by 4 bike-borne assailants (seen in CCTV footage) and fired upon indiscriminately. The assailants can also be seen getting off the bike and firing at close range. (Translated from Hindi).
UP: 25 साल के मुस्लिम युवक की 7 गोलियों से भूनकर हत्या!
— The Muslim Spaces (@TheMuslimSpaces) March 15, 2025
अलीगढ़ में हारिश नाम के एक युवक को 4 बाइक सवार हमलावरों (सीसीटीवी फुटेज में देखा गया) ने उस पर घात लगाकर अंधाधुंध गोलियां चलाईं। हमलावरों को बाइक से उतर कर नजदीक से गोली चलाते हुए भी देखा जा सकता है। pic.twitter.com/mPzF5cBUpR
Another account, @theunveiled24, also shared the video and wrote, “In Aligarh, India, a Muslim youth waiting for Suhoor was brutally shot dead by four assailants. Another horrifying act of violence against Muslims during Ramadan. Will justice be served?” He also used hashtags like “Islamophobia in India”.
"In Aligarh, India, a Muslim youth waiting for Suhoor was brutally shot dead by four assailants. Another horrifying act of violence against Muslims during Ramadan. Will justice be served? #Aligarh #IslamophobiaInIndia #JusticeForVictim" pic.twitter.com/vGdxl0O0VZ
— The Unveiled (@theunveiled24) March 18, 2025
Several other users, influencers and propagandists have also disseminated the visuals and made similar claims. Their posts can be seen here: @iamharunkhan, @MohdAde41920056, @Aadiljivan_, @MardeAzadIqbal, @md_mehfuzalam, @MuslimVoice_eng, @VoxShadabKhan, @centristnattv.
The truth behind the claims from Aligarh, Fact Check
As soon as the posts containing the sensitive visuals and claims came to our notice. Subsequently, we conducted research and analysis of the video. We found that the prime accused and victim belonged to the same community.
To verify the claims made by the users. We performed a relevant keyword search and found multiple reports (1, 2) and police statements regarding the incident. Furthermore, we found reports regarding the arrest of the accused. According to reports (1, 2), the main accused have been arrested and identified as Shanu alias Kallu and Arbaaz.
थाना रोरावर- दिनांक 14.03.25 सुबह शाहजमाल से सूचना प्राप्त हुई कि कुछ युवको द्वारा एक युवक को गोली मार दी गई है, तत्काल घायल को उपचार हेतु अस्पताल ले जाया गया जहाँ इलाज के दौरान व्यक्ति की मृत्यु हो गई, मौके पर फारेंसिक टीम द्वारा जाँच की जा रही है, तहरीर प्राप्त कर अभियोग… pic.twitter.com/l0prJ24JkZ
— ALIGARH POLICE (@aligarhpolice) March 14, 2025
As per reports, the accused had a quarrel with a person named Harris. In the quarrel, Harris first shot his friend Zaid. After that, his companions, Ritik, Zaid, and Babar, conspired to kill Harris by shooting him. Ritik provided illegal weapons to the accused Arbaaz and Shanu. After that, at midnight of 13/14 March, the accused Arbaaz, Shanu alias Kallu and their companions Babar and Zaid went to Harris’s house and fired indiscriminately at Harris. After killing Harris, these people fled from Aligarh to Delhi, where they were arrested.
Therefore, it is evident from verified sources that the accused and the victim were from the same community. The incident was not related to a religious hate crime.
3096
— D-Intent Data (@dintentdata) March 28, 2025
ANALYSIS: Misleading
FACT: A disturbing video showing bikers shooting an individual at point-blank range has been circulating with the claim that a Muslim man named Harris was killed in Aligarh while waiting for Sehri (the pre-dawn meal before fasting). (1/4) pic.twitter.com/iUxrAln9YF
Intent
Propagandists circulated sensitive videos with misleading claims to set their narrative based on religion.
Conclusion
Claim– A Muslim individual was shot dead at point-blank range in Aligarh in a religious hate crime.
Fact– The accused and victim belonged to the same community. It was unrelated to a religious hate crime.
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