A sensitive video has surfaced showing a group publicly humiliating two individuals by cutting their hair and forcing them to wear a garland made of slippers. The incident has been portrayed as a caste-based hate crime due to the victims’ identities. However, reports and police sources indicate that the two men were chased by a group while attempting to transport stolen two goats in an autorickshaw. They were later rescued by the police and arrested on theft charges.
Sharing the video on X (Formerly Twitter) @ambedkariteIND wrote, “Horrific Two dalit youths were publicly humiliated, their heads were shaved, same incident happened with two dalit women a few days ago, Odisha has become the new center of dalit atrocities”
Another propaganda account @tanmoyofc also shared the video and wrote, “Prime Features Of Double Engine Govt. Brutality and Lawlessness are now the Prime Features of the BJP-ruled States. Two #Dalit youth were treated in Jagatsinghpur! 
Prime Features Of Double Engine Govt
— তন্ময় l T͞anmoy l (@tanmoyofc) January 4, 2025
Brutality and Lawlessness are now the Prime Features of the BJP-ruled States.
Two #Dalit youth were treated in Jagatsinghpur! 📍Odisha
Human dignity is in ⚠️ Danger#DalitLivesMatters #INDvsAUS #RishabhPant #ViratKohli #INDvsAUSTest pic.twitter.com/60jljnuz8Q
Several other users, influencers, political workers and propagandists have also disseminated the video and made similar claims. Their posts can be seen here, @AmiyaPandav, @HateDetectors, @dalitarchive, @HansrajMeena, @ClarityToast, @newstrackdaily.
The truth behind the claims about two individuals beaten, Fact Check
As soon as the posts containing the video and accompanying claims came to our attention. Subsequently, we conducted thorough research and analysis of the footage. Our findings revealed that the two individuals were beaten and humiliated over theft charges, not due to their identities.
To verify the claims made by the users. We performed relevant keyword searches and found a media report regarding the incident. According to the report and police sources, the two men were chased by a group of people while they were taking away two goats in an autorickshaw. They were rescued by the police, booked and arrested on theft charges. Additionally, seven individuals involved in the incident have been arrested under the SC/ST Act in connection with the viral video.
Therefore, it is evident from verified sources that the two individuals were beaten over theft charges, not due to their identities.
2809
— D-Intent Data (@dintentdata) January 5, 2025
ANALYSIS: Distorted
FACT: A sensitive video showing a group of individuals publicly humiliating two people by cutting their hair and forcing them to wear a garland made of slippers been shared and portrayed as a caste-based hate crime because of their identities. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/zEdlpK7s0g
Intent
Influencers, propagandists and political workers are circulating videos from Odisha without providing the actual context to set their narrative.
Conclusion
Claim– Two Dalit individuals were beaten and humiliated due to their caste in Odisha’s Jagatsinghpur.
Fact– The two individuals were beaten and humiliated over theft charges, not due to their identities.
Related Article: Fact Check: A Muslim individual beaten and forced to chant religious slogans in Andhra Pradesh? – D-Intent Data
