Fact check: Army personnel clashes with Pilgrims at Maha Kumbh; Misleading video from Pushpa 2 Trailer Launch in Patna
DFRAC Editor 
The Maha Kumbh Mela is going on in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. It begun on 13 January and will end by 26 February 2025. Pilgrims from world over have descended upon the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati to take a holy dip.
In this backdrop, a viral video on social media shows a scuffle between Uniformed security forces and the crowd. The users sharing this video claim it to be from Maha Kumbh Mela.
Fact Check
On investigation, the claim was found to be false. Upon conducting a reverse image search using a keyframe from the video, multiple users on Instagram posted it online. On extensive search, we found the video posted on the official handle of Pushpa Movie which had posted about the Movie Trailer Launch on Instagram. The caption informed that the crowd was gathered at Gandhi Maidan, Patna, Bihar.
Showsha, an entertainment news channel linked with News18, posted a video on YouTube on 17 November 2024. The video was titled “Pushpa 2: Fans in Patna Create Chaos, Climb Electric Poles; Police Resort to Lathi Charge.” It showed how wild the atmosphere was at the movie trailer’s launch, and police had to control the crowd with lathi charge.
Additionally, a News18 news report from November 17, 2024, stated that fans in great numbers had gathered at the Gandhi Maidan in Patna to get a glimpse of their movie stars. Still, due to the crowd getting uncontrollable at the Pushpa 2 Trailer Launch which led to chaos, the security personnel resorted to lathi charges.
Conclusion
Thus, from the fact check it is evident that the viral video is not related to the Maha Kumbh Mela. It is an old clip from the Pushpa 2 Trailer Launch at Gandhi Maidan, Patna, Bihar.
DFRAC Analysis: Misleading.
Megha Bajaj 
Siddharth Urmil 