A video showing individuals being mercilessly beaten with sticks tied to a pole has been circulated, claiming that Dalit Hindus were brutally attacked by extremists for refusing to accept Islam in Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan. However, these claims are not true, the individuals in the video were beaten over accusations of stealing tower batteries.
Sharing the video on X (Formerly Twitter) serial fake news peddler and propagandist account @RealBababanaras wrote. “Shocking video from Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan where Dalit Hindu brothers were brutally beaten by Radical Islamists for not accepting Islam. Forget about justice, Pakistani police did not even register any case against Islamists. Bangladesh & Pakistan have become hell for Hindus”.
Several other users, influencers and propagandists have also disseminated the video and made similar claims. Their posts can be seen here, @FarazPervaiz3, @ajaychauhan41, @pakistan_untold.
The truth behind the claims from Rahim Yar Khan Pakistan, Fact Check
As soon as the posts containing the sensitive video and claims came to our notice. Subsequently, we conducted research and analysis of the video and found that the incident was unrelated to religious hate crimes and forced religious conversion.
To verify the claims made by users, we performed a reverse image search of some keyframes using Google Lens and conducted relevant keyword searches. This led us to local media reports and police statements.
According to the media report and police statements (1, 2), the individuals in the video were beaten over accusations of stealing tower batteries. The accused have been arrested, and further legal actions are underway. There are no verified or credible sources to support the claim that the victims were from the Hindu community or any other minority group in Pakistan and were attacked for refusing to accept Islam.
@MaryamNSharif@OfficialDPRPP@rpobahawalpur@OfficialSPPO
— Rahim Yar Khan Police (@Rykpolice068) December 20, 2024
رحیم یار خان// سرکل خان پور کے تھانہ ظاہر پیر کی حدود میں بااثر افراد کا چوری کے الزام میں شہری پر تشدد ڈی پی او رحیم یار خان رضوان عمر گوندل کا نوٹس،پولیس کی بروقت کارروائی، ملزمان گرفتار، مقدمہ درج۔* pic.twitter.com/lTwEaopKiU
Therefore, it is evident from D-Intent Data’s Fact Check that the video doesn’t depict a religious hate crime.
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— D-Intent Data (@dintentdata) December 24, 2024
ANALYSIS: Misleading
FACT: A video showing individuals being mercilessly beaten with sticks tied to a pole has been circulated with misleading claims that extremists brutally attacked Dalit Hindus for refusing to accept Islam in Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/85PJcnoCNB
Intent
Influencers and propagandists are circulating sensitive videos from Pakistan with misleading claims to set their narrative.
Conclusion
Claim– Extremists assaulted Dalit Hindus for not accepting Islam in Pakistan’s Rahim Yar Khan.
Fact – The video depicts some people assaulting the individuals over allegations of theft. It is unrelated to religious hate crimes.
Related Article: Fact Check: South Africa and Pakistan plan to establish a sea-based trade route connecting Africa and South Asia? – D-Intent Data
