Recently a video of a group of Muslim people, with sticks in their hands, destroying trees, and farmland and taking away cattle went viral on social media. The video shows smoke in several places in the fields. Sharing the video, users wrote, “Muslim terrorists have evacuated 12 villages in West Bengal and destroyed 150 acres of Hindu farmland, burning animals, trees, vehicles, bungalows, everything.”
However, as we investigated, we came to know that the claim was false. The video is old and not from India. 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 Facebook page where the viral video was uploaded on 29 November 2024. The English translation of the Bengali caption reads, “Warning⚠️: Not only minorities, but even Muslims are not safe from radical militants.
Watching the video clip of the attack and looting at Sherpur Murshidpur Darbar Sharif, it is clear where Bangladesh is heading today.
It goes without saying that the illegitimate Yunus government is trying to turn Bangladesh into a militant nation by sheltering these militant terrorists.
#StepDownYunus #SaveBangladesh”
The caption clearly mentioned that the video shows the Muslims looting the Darbar Sharif in Sherpur, Murshidpur, Bangladesh. It didn’t say that the Hindu villages in West Bengal were attacked.
Taking this clue, we conducted a relevant keyword search. This led us to a video uploaded on YouTube on 28 November 2024. The viral clip can be seen from the timestamp 0:50. The video shows a group of Muslim people attacking and looting a shrine in the Sherpur area of Bangladesh.
We found a video uploaded on a YouTube channel mentioning that the Doja Pir Darbar in Sherpur was attacked and set on fire. According to the police, the students and the teachers of the Qaumi Madrasa had demanded the closure of the Darbar Sharif after filing a complaint that immoral activities were taking place in the Darbar Sharif. A clash took place between the villagers and the followers of the Pir.
A report published in the Dhaka Tribune on 27 November 2024 read, “Police detained seven individuals in connection with the vandalism and looting of Murshidpur Darbar Sharif, the religious establishment led by Khwaja Badrudduja Haider (Doja Pir), in Sherpur’s Lachhmanpur area on Tuesday morning. The incident left 13 people injured in clashes between the attackers and those defending the Darbar Sharif.
Among the injured, six — including Asif, 25, Shahidul Islam, 35, Al Masood, 15, Jisan, 22, Enamul Haque, 35, and Hafez, 39 — are receiving treatment at Sherpur District Sadar Hospital. Another victim, Zainal, 28, has been transferred to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for advanced care. According to a written complaint filed by Mahmudan Masud, the caretaker of the Darbar Sharif, 25 individuals — alongside 400–500 unidentified people — allegedly orchestrated the attack.
The complaint, naming a local madrasa superintendent among the suspects, is currently being processed as a formal case.
Sources from the Darbar Sharif claimed the attack was motivated by allegations from local madrasa teachers and residents that anti-Islamic activities were taking place at the Darbar.
Around 400–500 people reportedly stormed the premises, breaking down fences and vandalizing property. When caretakers and devotees resisted, a clash ensued, leading to the injuries.
Security forces, including police, RAB, and army personnel, intervened to bring the situation under control. Tariqul Islam, a madrasa teacher accused of leading the attack, denied the allegations, claiming that the Darbar authorities had called them for negotiations and then attacked their group.
He alleged that seven madrasa affiliates were injured during the altercation and are currently hospitalized.
“The Darbar is blaming the local community after damaging their own property,” he added.
Sherpur Sadar police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Zubaidul Alam confirmed that seven individuals had been detained and that the submitted complaint is being registered as a case.
“The entire incident is under serious investigation,” he said, adding that Superintendent of Police Md Aminul Islam and senior army officers have visited the site.
Authorities continue to maintain heightened security in the area as investigations progress.”
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 doesn’t show a recent attack on Hindus in West Bengal. This is an old video from Bangladesh where clashes among the Muslims erupted over a Shrine in Sherpur, Murshidpur.
Title:Old Video From Bangladesh Going Viral As An Attack On Hindus In West Bengal.
Fact Check By: Debanjana BaishyaResult: False
