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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Three more arrested in connection with murder of Suhas Shetty in Mangaluru
Mangaluru (Karnataka), May 14 (PTI): The Mangaluru City Crime Branch has arrested three men in connection with the murder of Hindutva activist Suhas Shetty, officials said on Wednesday.
The accused, identified as Azaruddin alias Azar alias Ajju (29), Abdul Khader alias Noufal (24) and Vamanjoor Noushad alias Chotte Noushad (39), were arrested during the last two days, they said.
With the fresh arrests, a total of 11 people have been arrested in connection with the murder so far, police said.
According to a police statement, Azaruddin had previously been booked in three theft cases registered at Panambur, Suratkal, and Mulki police stations. He allegedly provided information about Shetty's movements to the other accused, aiding in the murder.
Khader is said to have assisted the accused during their escape in a car after the murder was committed.
Noushad is accused of having conspired with the others and directly participated in the crime. He has six previous criminal cases, including murder, attempted murder, and robbery conspiracy, registered at various police stations in Dakshina Kannada, police said.
Azaruddin has been remanded in judicial custody, while Khader and Noushad have been taken into police custody for seven days for further investigation.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and efforts are underway to trace other accused involved in the case.
Shetty, a known rowdy sheeter and Hindutva activist, was murdered by a group on May 1 within the Bajpe police station limits in Mangaluru City.
