A few days ago, various misinformation propaganda accounts began circulating an old video that showed a crowd engaged in a scuffle with security forces. The video, shared with claims that it depicted Bajrang Dal activists attacking police personnel, has a different origin. The video in question originates from Narayanpur in Chhattisgarh, where a fight occurred in January 2023 between Adivasi groups and Christian missionaries. This incident revolved around Adivasi locals protesting against the religious conversion of fellow Adivasis into Christianity. A recent incident in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur involving a clash between police and tribals protesters has become a prime example of how misleading narratives can cloud the understanding of real events.
Initially, the misleading video was shared by a habitual offender named @KashifArsalaan, this misinformation aimed to target the BJP Government. By exploiting this old video, he aimed to mislead the public into believing that the BJP, along with Hindu groups, stood against minority communities in India.
Clash Over Religious Conversion: January 2023 Incident
In January 2023, tensions escalated in Narayanpur, a district in Chhattisgarh, as a mob from the Adivasi community vandalized a church due to suspicions of forceful and illegal conversions to Christianity. The incident took place near the premises of Viswadeepti School, where a group gathered and initiated the vandalism. The Sarva Adivasi Samaj organized the gathering to submit a memorandum to the collector’s office, alleging ongoing illegal conversions and unauthorized church constructions. Similar complaints had been raised in the past, as confirmed by collector officials.
In the visuals that came out from Narayanpur, the police were seen to be defensive in front of the crowd. Even the people involved in the crowd had sticks and rods, the police did not use force on them. Police sources said that such a situation happened because instructions were received from the government not to use force on the tribals. As the situation escalated, law enforcement intensified their presence in the area to prevent potential violence. Unfortunately, the mob turned aggressive, the protest turned violent and the police were seen running to save themselves.
Sadanand Kumar, the Superintendent of Police in Narayanpur, was unexpectedly attacked from behind as he worked to calm the mob, resulting in his injury. He later addressed the media, stating, “Today, we held a meeting with tribal community leaders at the Collector’s office where we asked them to keep their protests peaceful. However, some people went to the church to attack it. Police arrived at the scene and attempted to persuade them to remain calm. Suddenly, I was attacked from behind, causing my injury. A further probe will be conducted.”
Intent Behind the Propaganda and Misleading Claims
Ironically, certain individuals from Anti-Hindu and Anti-India groups are now propagating the narrative that extremist Hindus were responsible for vandalizing the church. However, these same individuals do not recognize Adivasis and Dalits as Hindus. This twist in the narrative emphasizes their selective targeting of Hindus, disregarding the complex aspects of the situation.
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 Violence-hit Manipur. Such propaganda accounts seek to inflame emotions, encouraging disagreement among the general public. This is an effort to manipulate public sentiment and cause disruption. While the video portrays Adivasi protestors clashing with law enforcement, it has been manipulated to falsely accuse Hindu groups. This misinformation campaign conveniently overlooks the true events and the underlying reasons behind the clash. 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. We have also attached a news article related to the January incident, here. [archive]
Claim: Video depicts Bajrang Dal activists assaulting police; propaganda suggests Hindu group’s aggression.
Fact: The circulated video is an old clip from Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur, showing an altercation between Adivasi protestors and police during a clash over religious conversions; misinformation aimed at targeting Hindu groups and promoting false narratives.
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.
