Recently, news has surfaced on social media platforms with the claim that a man dies after having scuffle in the locality in Uttar Pradesh’s Shamli. Several users have shared the news and projected it as a religious hate crime against minority communities in the state. However, D-Intent Data has found that these claims are not true. According to police sources, It was neither a mob lynching nor a religion-based hate crime.
Man dies after having scuffle in the locality – False claims disseminated
Several users, propagandists, extremists, influencers, self-proclaimed journalists and political workers have shared the news. And claimed that a man named Firoz Qureshi died after a mob belonging to a different community attacked him brutally.
Serial fake news peddler and propagandists account @meerfaisal001 on X(Formerly Twitter) shared a video of the deceased’s family member and said. “In Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, Firoz Qureshi, a Muslim scrap worker and father of three, was lynched to death by a mob while at work on July 4. His family and neighbours are shocked and demand justice for his senseless killing.”
Another serial fake news peddler @ZakirAliTyagi has made a long post on X and said. Police have registered a case under section of unintentional murder against the accused of Firoz Qureshi who was killed in mob lynching in Jalalabad of Shamli. Targeting the police he said, according to the police, the murderers did not have the intention to kill him, they were only beating him due to which he died.
Extremist and religious hate spreader Md Asif khan (@imMAK02) has also made a post and said. “Muslim Man Lynched To Death In Uttar Pradesh’s Shamli Over Allegations Of Theft.”
Propaganda media outlets circulate false claims
Media outlets run by extremists and propagandists have also disseminated false claims about the death of Firoz Qureshi in Uttar Pradesh’s Shamli.
Propaganda media @MaktoobMedia wrote. In Uttar Pradesh’s Shamli, a Muslim man named Firoz Qureshi, resident of Jalalabad, was beaten to death by a mob after being labeled as a thief on Thursday. This is the 12th lynching since June 4 and the eighth Muslim man lynched after the BJP-led NDA won its third general election.
Another propaganda media @TheObserverPost has also shared the video of Firoz Qureshi’s family member on X and said. “In Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, Firoz Qureshi, a Muslim scrap worker and father of three, was lynched to death by a mob while at work on July 4. His family and neighbours are shocked and demand justice for his senseless killing.”
Several other users, propagandists, extremists, influencers, self-proclaimed journalists and political workers have also shared the news. And made similar communal claims. Their posts can be seen here. @TheMuslim786, @iamharunkhan (2), @_SamiullahKhan, @Gabbar0099, @ItsKhan_Saba, @Mustafa_India, @HateDetectors.
Truth about the incident, fact-check
As soon as the posts came to our knowledge, we conducted research and found verified media reports and police statements regarding the incident.
According to the reports. On Thursday (4 July 2024) night at around 9 o’clock. Firoz, a Mohalla Amanat Ali resident, entered Dharampal Kashyap’s house in Mohalla Aryanagar of Jalalabad town. When the woman raised the alarm, the youth entered another house in the neighbourhood and locked the door from inside. During this time, people of the locality gathered. People pulled the youth out and beat him. The youth was handed over to the police, who arrived on information.
According to the police, the youth was in an inebriated state. The police handed over the youth to his family members at night itself. The family took the youth home. At around 11 p.m., Firoz’s condition deteriorated, and he died.
Hence, it is evident from D-Intent Data’s fact-check, that the entire incident has nothing to do with religious hate crime and mob lynching. It was neither a mob lynching nor a religion-based hate crime.
Intent
Religious hate and misinformation propaganda accounts are circulating misleading and false claims about the death of Firoz Qureshi in Uttar Pradesh’s Shamli. And trying to create communal unrest in the state.
Conclusion
Claim- A Muslim man named Firoz Qureshi was beaten to death in a religious mob lynching in Uttar Pradesh’s Shamli.
Fact- Under the influence of alcohol. The deceased entered a house in the locality where he had a scuffle and was caught by locals. Later they informed the police and was handed over to the family. After some time his condition deteriorated, and he died.
