2015 video of lathi charge on Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand falsely shared linking to Prayagraj Mahakumbh

The viral video is from 2015, when the police lathi-charged Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand during a protest over Ganesh immersion in Varanasi. 

Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, the Shankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth, has criticized the Uttar Pradesh government for the tragic stampede in Mahakumbh. He reportedly said that the government had no moral right to remain in power after the stampede. Against this backdrop, a video of lathi charge on Shankaracharya Avimukteshwarananda is being shared on social media. This video is being linked to Maha Kumbh. The users claiming it to show a recent lathi charge on the Shankaracharya at the ongoing MahaKumbh.

Let’s check the truth

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The same video is viral on Facebook as well.

Fact Check- 

We started our investigation with a reverse image search on google and the results led us to a video report uploaded on the official YouTube channel of Aaj Tak on 24 September 2015. The caption states, Locals lathi charged over holding a sit-in protest demanding immersion of Ganesh idol in Ganga. 

As per the reports, there was a clash between saints and police over immersion of Ganesh idol in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Many saints including Swami Avimukteshwaranand were injured in the lathi charge by the police. The police got the idol immersed in Lakshmi Kund. Nearly 30 people sustained injuries, while 25 were held for violating Section 144 of the CrPC, besides rioting and stone-pelting. It was a protest led by Swami Avimukteshwaranand against the Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to ban Ganesh idol immersion in the Ganga River in Varanasi.

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Moving forward, we also found a video report by the First India News uploaded in September 2015. The video’s caption stated that Lathi-Charge on saints by police in Varanasi over idol immersion. The conflict started on the issue of immersion of Ganesha Idol in the ganga river.

Based on these evidences, we can understand that the viral video is old and not related to the Prayagraj Mahakumbh. 

Conclusion- 

Fact crescendo found the claim made along with the viral video to be Misleading. The viral video is from 2015, when the police lathi-charged several saints including Shankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand, during a protest over Ganesh immersion in Varanasi. It is not related to the Prayagraj Mahakumbh.