A video is being shared on social media claiming to show police baton charge during the Haldwani violence. This video has been shared on the social media site X (formerly Twitter) and has been uploaded on several YouTube channels as well.
While sharing this video, a user named Chandni wrote, “Constitutional policemen baton charge on Muslims in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, the new India created by BJP. #HaldwaniRiots #Haldwani”. Similarly, some users have shared this video on YouTube as well claiming it to be of a baton charge at Haldwani.
Fact Check
To fact-check the viral video, the DFRAC team first converted the video into a few frames and then conducted a reverse search. We found that some users shared this video claiming to be of a baton charge on supporters of Mufti Salman Azhari in Ghatkopar, Mumbai.
Several users posted this video between 10 to 11 PM on Wednesday, the 7th of February 2024, while according to media reports, the violence erupted on the evening of Thursday, the 8th of February 2024. Thus, it becomes clear that the viral video was posted on social media one day before the violence broke out in Haldwani.
Conclusion
Therefore, DFRAC’s fact-checking confirms that the video being described as a baton charge in Haldwani by social media users was posted on social media by several users one day before the violence in Haldwani. This video is of a baton charge in Mumbai.
Therefore, the claim made by social media users is misleading.
