A few days ago, a video circulated widely, portraying a group of young men brutally thrashing a man. The footage led to claims that a specific community, had targeted a railway gateman in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh, thus making it look like a communal angle. However, thorough investigation and fact-checking reveal a different story altogether.
The spread of misleading information was propagated by habitual spreaders of fake news. Accounts such as @JIX5A, @ina24news, @WeUttarPradesh, @_treeni, and @MithilaWaala were identified as the primary sources of these fabricated claims. These accounts, known for disseminating religious hate and misinformation, aimed to exploit the incident to fuel discord and communal tensions.
Contrary to the claims, the victim identified as Mohammad Nabi Zaidi, is not a railway gateman. The incident transpired due to a personal dispute arising from a bike accident involving Praveen, the prime accused, and a relative of Zaidi. Praveen’s wife was injured in the mishap, leading to a confrontation that escalated into violence.
The incident unfolded in Saraiya village within the jurisdiction of the Pihani police station in Uttar Pradesh’s Hardoi district. Hardoi Police, through a video message, unequivocally clarified the situation. They debunked claims suggesting the communal angle responsible for the attack. Instead, they affirmed that the confrontation was the outcome of a private dispute fueled by an accident, completely dismissing any religious intents.
By spreading false claims, certain individuals appear to have the intention of sowing disagreement and lack of harmony among various communities. Their main motive seems to be generating turmoil in Hardoi. These deceptive posts involve sharing outdated videos, inaccurately portraying them as recent events. Such propaganda accounts seek to inflame emotions, encouraging disagreement among the general public. This is an effort to manipulate public sentiment and cause disruption. Following comprehensive analysis and meticulous fact-checking, our team has investigated the claim. You can refer to the findings of this inquiry in the Twitter thread embedded below or check out the complete news by Newstrack.com (archive).
CLAIM: A railway gateman was thrashed by a mob from a particular community.
FACT: Misleading, there’s no communal angle, and rather its a personal dispute.
In our pursuit of accurate and unbiased information, we’ve diligently fact-checked the claims surrounding the incident. Misinformation can sow discord and disrupt communal harmony. Your support matters greatly in our mission to foster an informed and united society. Together, let’s strive to make India and Indians proud, upholding truth and unity. Jai Hind.
