Traffic Police Assaulting A Man in Aurangabad Viral In The Name Of Various Cities

A clip showing a traffic police officer assaulting a man has sparked a controversy on social media. The viral clip has been linked to multiple cities, including Mumbai and Surat, prompting intense criticism of those respective city’s authorities. 

Fact Crescendo received this video with fact-check requests on our WhatsApp Tipline (9049053770).

We confirmed that the video is neither from Mumbai nor Gujarat. Instead, the incident took place in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad).

WHAT’S THE CLAIM?

We can see in the viral clip a traffic police officer forcefully slapping and kicking a man, while another officer intervenes and attempts to separate them.

Filmed from a distance, the clip has been widely shared with claims of its occurrence in both Mumbai and Gujarat. 

FACT-CHECK

Using keyword search, we came across several Marathi news reports about this video.

According to Maharashtra Times, the incident took place at Kranti Chowk in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on 20 May. Traffic Police Constable Pradeep Chavhan brutally thrashed a bike rider for jumping the signal. 

Lokmat quoted Traffic Police Inspector Pradeep Kathane saying the rider was allegedly drunk and engaged in a heated argument with the police officers after violating a red signal. 

No formal case has been registered regarding this incident.

CONCLUSION

Contrary to viral claims, the clip of a traffic police officer assaulting a man is from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad). It has been wrongly shared as an incident from Mumbai and Gujarat.

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