Recently clashes erupted between two communities in Mohanbari, Malda, West Bengal, leading to the arrest of 34 people. According to reports, on Wednesday, a preparatory rally for Ram Navami passed a local mosque. A section of people alleged that firecrackers were thrown near the mosque. On Thursday, as the news spread, a section of people blocked local roads. When police tried to lift the blockade, stones were allegedly pelted at the police and their vehicle was allegedly ransacked. Police used baton charges and lobbed tear gas shells to control the mob. Against this backdrop, a video of people vandalizing structures and setting vehicles on fire went viral on social media claiming to be from Mohanbari, Malda. Sharing the video, users wrote, “SHAME ON YOU, MAMATA BANERJEE! Where are the so-called “liberals” now? Hiding in their cozy bubbles while Hindus are ATTACKED in Mothabari, Malda! Shops burned, lives shattered by a jihadi mob, and what do we hear from Didi? DEAFENING SILENCE! This is the “secularism” you’ve turned West Bengal into—where Hindus are left to fend for themselves while your vote-bank politics shields the culprits! You promised arrests in Sandeshkhali, but where’s the action now? Your soft stance on minorities has emboldened these mobs, and the blood of innocent Hindus is on YOUR hands! Liberals, your selective outrage is disgusting—why no protests for Mothabari’s Hindus?”
However, as we investigated, we came to know that the claim was false. The video is not from Mohanbari but from Bangladesh. Here’s the fact check.
Fact Check
We started our investigation by taking some screenshots from the viral video and conducting a reverse image search. This led us to a video report uploaded on the Facebook page of “Prothom Alo”, a Bangladeshi newspaper on 27 November 2023. The video was a longer version of the viral video. According to the caption, the incident took place in Sylhet, Bangladesh.
We found the same video on the YouTube channel of “Prothom Alo” uploaded on 27 November 2023.
According to reports, “BNP leaders and activists held a torchlight procession in Sylhet in support of the blockade. Several vehicles were vandalized and set on fire during the march. The incident took place in the Subid Bazar area of the city around 7 pm on Sunday. The incident spread panic in the area.
Some eyewitnesses said that around 7 pm, a torchlight procession came from the Pathantula area of the city in support of the blockade. When the procession reached the Subid Bazar intersection, a rickshaw parked on the side of the road, a CNG-powered autorickshaw and an ambulance heading to Amberkhana from the Pathantula area were set on fire. At that time, panic spread in the area and local businessmen closed their businesses. At that time, panic spread among the pedestrians and many of them started running. In addition, rickshaws, CNG-powered autorickshaws, Lagunas and other vehicles plying on the road did not go towards Jail Road and turned away.”
Another report containing an image similar to the screenshots from the viral video can be read here.
Moreover, the West Bengal police tweeted that the viral video was not from Mohanbari, Malda but from Sylhet, Bangladesh.
This makes it clear that the viral video is old and from Bangladesh.
Conclusion
From our investigation, we can say that the claim is false. The viral video is not from Mohanbari, Malda, West Bengal. The video is from a violence in Sylhet, Bangladesh in November 2023.
Title:Old Video From Sylhet, Bangladesh Going Viral Linking To The Communal Clash In Malda, West Bengal.
Written By: Debanjana BaishyaResult: False
