Fact check: Old video of boys placing stones on railway tracks resurfaces with misleading claims
New Delhi: A video showing a minor boy placing stones on railway tracks has resurfaced on social media, accompanied by misleading claims suggesting a deliberate act of sabotage linked to communal tensions. The video, widely circulated on platforms like X, implies that children are being used to cause train derailments, with some posts falsely attributing the incident to a specific community.
Social media users shared the video, claiming that the event is part of a larger conspiracy to sabotage railway tracks. These posts have gained significant traction, with many speculating about the involvement of certain communities in the incident.
However, a fact-check report by Alt News reveals that the video is not recent and lacks any communal angle. The video was traced back to May 12, 2018, when it was first posted on Facebook. It was recorded in Kalaburagi, Karnataka, and depicts children from nearby slums playing by placing stones on the railway tracks.
Ravi Kumar, the circle inspector of Raichur Railways, confirmed that the video is from 2018 and clarified that the children had no intention of causing harm. The trackmen present at the scene, identified as Gopal and Rajkumar, scolded the boys and let them go without filing a case. Both trackmen also confirmed that the boys involved were Hindus, debunking the communal claims.
In conclusion, the viral video is from 2018, and the claims of a deliberate act of sabotage with a communal angle are false. The incident involved children playing near the tracks without any malicious intent.
Right Wing Pro-Govt Propaganda accounts are sharing old videos to give communal angles to the train accidents or it is a deliberate act of 'sabotage'
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) September 8, 2024
This is a 6-yr-old video of boy placing stones on rail tracks in Kalburgi. This video was earlier shared with a claim that the… https://t.co/EaDBHZlskH
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UP: BJP MLA falls on rail track while flagging off Vande Bharat train
Etawah (UP), Sep 16: BJP's Etawah MLA Sarita Bhadauriya fell onto the railway tracks while vying to wave the green flag for the Agra-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express here on Monday.
Purported videos of the incident surfaced on social media.
The incident occurred amidst a crowded platform as the train arrived around 6 pm. The 61-year-old second-term BJP lawmaker was among a host of people holding the green flag as they stood at the platform, the video showed.
Following the virtual inauguration of the Vande Bharat train by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the train, numbered 20175, was flagged off by the Rail Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu from Agra.
When contacted by PTI, BJP's Etawah unit treasurer Sanjeev Bhadauriya said, "The MLA was helped off the track and she then waited for some time at the platform for the flag-off event."
"Later she consulted doctors and is resting at her home now. She did not suffer any visible physical injuries. If there is any internal injury, it is yet to be confirmed," Bhadauriya said.
The train made stops at Tundla before arriving at Etawah station. Upon its arrival, a commotion ensued on the platform as various political figures, including Samajwadi Party MP Jitendra Douwhare, former BJP MP Ram Shankar, and current MLA Sarita Bhadauriya, gathered to participate in the flag-off, the videos showed.
As the train's horn signalled its departure, the platform became chaotic with supporters jostling for position. In the ensuing melee, the MLA was pushed off the platform and she fell onto the railway tracks in front of the train, it showed.
The train was stopped in time by bystanders, preventing a major accident. Bhadauriya was quickly rescued from the tracks by the police and taken to the hospital, according to eyewitnesses.
Talking about the operation date for the Vande Bharat Express, PRO Prashasti Srivastava from the Agra division of the railways said that the date will be announced soon.
The train will cover the distance between Agra and Varanasi in approximately seven hours. The return train will operate as number 20176 from Varanasi to Agra, while the Agra-Varanasi service will be number 20175.
Etawah, UP: The flag-off ceremony for the Agra-Varanasi Vande Bharat Express faced chaos due to heavy rush, and BJP's Etawah Sadar MLA, Sarita Bhadoria, fell in front of the train pic.twitter.com/p10CfbDIF0
— IANS (@ians_india) September 16, 2024
