An Udhampur liquor shop protest video has been circulating on social media with false and misleading claims. Pakistan-based propaganda accounts have shared visuals of people demonstrating against the opening of a liquor shop in Udhampur, falsely claiming that Indian police are committing atrocities against Muslim men and women in Jammu and Kashmir. D-Intent Data’s investigation reveals that these claims are fabricated and lack factual basis.
Pakistani accounts circulate video with false claims
Pakistan-based propaganda accounts have shared the visuals of people protesting against the opening of a liquor shop at Sarmata village in Udhampur.
Sharing the visuals, Pakistan-based propaganda account @Pak1stTeam has shared the video and said. Indian occupied Jammu & Kashmir the atrocities of India are crossing all barriers In Udhampur Jammu Muslim women and men were beaten by Hindutva police of India because they were protesting against opening liquor shop in the area.Kashmir is a Muslim land and India is pouring liquor here.”
Debunking Misinformation: The Truth Behind the Udhampur Liquor Shop Protest Video
As soon as the video came to our knowledge, we tried to find if the claims were true or false. During research, we found media reports regarding the protest against the opening of a liquor shop at Sarmata of Sarsu Panchayat in Udhampur. According to reports, a Protest erupted against the liquor shop opened in Sarmata of Sarsu Panchayat, Udhampur on Friday. Former BDC Chairman Jaganu Sanjit Sharma supported the people and protested with the villagers, He also demanded the closure of the shop.
The former BDC chairman said that the government should provide employment opportunities in rural areas. And not push the youth into the pit of addiction by opening liquor shops. Under the leadership of former Sarpanch Sunita of Purua Jagir, women protested in front of the shop. The former Sarpanch said that the protest will continue until the liquor shop is shifted.
Analyzing the Spread: How the Udhampur Liquor Shop Protest Video Was Misrepresented
Pakistan-based propaganda accounts have shared the video. And projected it as a religion based hate crime against minorities in India’s Jammu and Kashmir. The fact is that the protest was organised by locals and had no religious angle in the incident. The villages in Udhampur are dominated by Hindu population.
As per reports total population of Udhampur district is 554,985 as per census 2011. Hinduism constitutes 88.12% of Udhampur population. Muslims are a minority in Udhampur forming 10.77% of total population.
The claims made by Pakistani accounts are false and baseless.
Intent
Pakistan-based propaganda accounts are circulating videos of protestors with false claims to set their narrative against India.
Conclusion
Claim- People belonging to Muslim community were harrassed by the police in Udhampur. Because they tried to protest against opening a liquor shop in the village.
Fact- The protesters are not Muslims but locals who are mostly Hindus. The villages in Udhampur are dominated by Hindu population.
Related Article: Two Terrorists Killed in An Encounter in Sopore, Jammu and Kashmir: Fact-Check on Pakistani Misinformation – D-Intent Data (dintentdata.com)
