Video clip of a stage drama from Odisha falsely linked to communal angle. Here’s the truth

Fact Check en Featured Misleading-en

On social media, a video showing a man screaming on stage and another man kicking him is going viral. While sharing the video users claim that “A peaceful was giving a speech against Hindus. A single Hindu man went on stage and gave him a GPL in front of a peaceful fringe mob”.

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Fact Check

During the investigation, DFRAC found that this video is from a stage act being performed in Sambalpur, Odisha. We found multiple media reports regarding the viral video. According to ‘KalingaTV’ published on 11 Sep 2024 “ the artists of Jatra party Swarna Mahal were performing on the Jatra stage yesterday. Jatra ‘Swami Pain Pachhe Narkaku Jibi’ was being performed when it was seen that all of a sudden a youth from the audience climbed up the pandal and started beating up one of the performing artists”.

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Furthermore, we also found a report from ‘OdishaTV’ stating “Jatra villains acting was so real and devilish that, some audience became reactive. Initially, they hurled bottles on the stage after seeing the acts and hearing the dialogues of the villains. Subsequently, they went on the stage and thrashed the villains”.

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Conclusion

It is evident from the DFRAC’s fact check that the viral video on social media is of an artist performing on stage in Sambalpur district of Odisha. This is not a case of hate speech against Hindu society. Therefore, the claim of social media users is misleading.