Did Muslims vandalize railway station because train horn disturbed namaz? Viral video fact-checked
A video showing a mob vandalizing a railway station in West Bengal has been widely shared on social media with the claim that the group became violent because a train horn disturbed their prayers. However, upon investigation, it was revealed that the video actually dates back to the 2019 anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protests.
Viral Claim
One of the captions of the viral video stated, "Mahishashur railway station in Murshidabad, Bengal being destroyed. Reason: The sound of the train whistle is disturbing their Namaaz. We can see the future of India. #BengalModel." Another similar video, which shows people removing train tracks, is circulating with the same misleading claim.
Investigation
The investigation into these claims involved several steps:
1. Identifying the Location:
- In the 1:49 minute-long video, the location's name 'Naopara Mahishasur' is visible on a wall. This station is located in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal.
2. Verifying the Date and Context:
- Using the InVID Google Chrome extension, the video was fragmented into multiple keyframes and subjected to a reverse image search. This led to a Facebook post from 2019, which featured similar videos from different angles, indicating that the videos were from the 2019 anti-CAA protests.
- The 2019 Facebook post included multiple videos showing vandalism at Naopara Mahishasur railway station and attributed the violence to the anti-CAB protests.
3. Cross-Referencing Visuals:
- Comparing the 2019 video with the viral one revealed the same individuals, including a man in a blue shirt, vandalizing the railway station.
4. Additional Sources:
- A YouTube video dated December 14, 2019, titled 'Protest procession against CAB and NRC at Naopara Mahishasur station in Sagardighi' corroborated the events.
- A keyword search using 'Naopara Mahishasura railway station anti-CAA protest' in Bengali led to an article from Bartaman Patrika dated December 15, 2019. The article detailed protests against the citizenship issue at Nimatita station, Poradanga station, and Naopara Mahishasur station, confirming the morning vandalism linked to anti-CAA protests.
Conclusion
The viral claim that the mob vandalized the railway station due to the disturbance caused by a train horn during prayers is false. The videos actually depict the 2019 anti-CAA protests at Naopara Mahishasur railway station in Murshidabad district, West Bengal. This fact-check confirms that the current claims circulating on social media are misleading, as the context and timing of the events have been misrepresented.
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'Wagh nakh' being brought from London not original, says historian; govt refutes claim
Mumbai, Jul 8: The 'wagh nakh' or tiger claw shaped weapon of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj that the Maharashtra government intends to bring from a museum in London is not "original", historian Indrajit Sawant said on Monday and asserted the one used by the legendary emperor remains in the state's Satara itself.
The state government had last year signed a memorandum of understanding with the London-based museum to get the 'wagh nakh' that was used by the founder of the Maratha Empire to kill Bijapur Sultanate's general Afzal Khan in 1659.
The 'wagh nakh' is an enduring and revered symbol of the warrior king's tenacity and valour as it was used to subdue and kill a physically larger opponent.
"The wagh nakh is being brought to Maharashtra on a loan agreement of Rs 30 crore for three years. In its reply to my letter, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London has said there is no evidence the wagh nakh (in its possession) belongs to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj," Sawant told reporters in Kolhapur.
"The team from Maharashtra under minister Sudhir Mungantiwar that visited London to sign the loan agreement has been told to display this information. The real wagh nakh is in Satara itself," Sawant claimed.
Another researcher, Pandurang Balkawade, told a Marathi TV channel that Pratapsinh Chhatrapati gave the 'wagh nakh' from his personal collection to Britisher Garnt Duff between 1818 and 1823, adding that Duff's descendants handed it over to the museum.
However, Sawant said Pratapsinh Chhatrapati showed the 'wagh nakh' to several persons after Duff left India.
Speaking on the issue, minister Shambhuraj Desai said it is well known that the 'Bhavani talwar' and the 'wagh nakh' are in London.
"Our government verified the details and then signed the MoU. If historians have any other view, our government will clarify the issue," Desai said.
Senior Maharashtra BJP leader Ashish Shelar said the government's stand is clear that all artefacts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which are inspirations for the people, will be preserved, promoted and put on display.
