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The tweet wasn’t made by Ex- Colonel Vijay Acharya. It was from a clone/impersonating account - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
August 22, 2019
On Social Media, since the past few days, a screenshot of a tweet from Twitter handle “@AcharyaCol” is doing rounds. The tweet has the message that he is Colonel Acharya of Indian Army and he had decided to resign from the army as Pakistan had killed 25 Indian soldiers of his unit. Let’s try to analyze the veracity of the tweet seen in the screenshot.
Colonel Vijaya Acharya of Indian Army has tweeted that he had decided to resign from the army as Pakistan had killed 25 Indian soldiers of his unit.
Fact: Vijay Acharya has said in an interview that the tweet, attributing to him, that has been in circulation was from a ‘clone’ account. He even said that he had retired from the Indian Army on March 31st this year. Hence, the claim made in the post stands FALSE.
The screenshot of the tweet contains Twitter handle address “@AcharyaCol”. When searched for the same, it was displayed ‘This account doesn’t exist’. A screenshot with a tweet containing the same message but with the Twitter handle “@Archeie65” was also known to be in circulation on several social media platforms. When searched for the same, it displayed as ‘Account suspended’. So, Twitter might have suspended the account for violating its rules. It was not found whether any of those Twitter accounts really belonged to Ex-Colonel Vijay Acharya.
When we carried on with  the search process, Vijay Acharya’s interview with a news channel regarding the tweets being circulated on his name was found. In the interview, Vijay Acharya has said that that tweet attributing to him is from a clone account and that he has reported regarding it to Twitter and they have suspended those accounts. In the interview, Acharya went on to say that he had retired as a Colonel from the Indian Army this March 31st and has been living in his home place Jaipur.
Moreover, the text seen in the tweet doesn’t seem to be in official language. It has a lot of spelling mistakes and also lacks a proper grammatical structure. It is most unlikely that the officer of his cadre would make such mistakes. So, the tweet wasn’t made by Ex-Colonel Vijay Acharya, it was from a clone account.
During the search process, a video of Zee News that termed the tweet to be ‘Fake’  was found and it can be seen here.
To conclude, the tweet wasn’t made by Ex- Colonel Vijay Acharya. It was from a clone/impersonating account.
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The two-headed Nandi (bull) in the photo is not real. It is a photoshopped image - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
December 10, 2019
A photo of a two-headed Nandi (bull) with some accompanying text is being shared widely on social media. While the accompanying text is written in a sarcastic tone, a large number of users are sharing the photo believing it to be true. Let’s try to check the authenticity of the image in the post.
The photo has been shared more than 10,000 times at the time of writing this article. By looking at the comments, it can be ascertained that the users are believing the photo to be true.
Photo of a two-headed Nandi (bull).
Fact: It is a photoshopped image. In the original photo, it can be seen that the bull has only one head. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
When the photo of the bull is cropped and run through the Google Reverse Image Search, a similar photo was found in a blog. In the photo, it can be seen that the bull has only one head. The head has been copied and mirrored in the edited photo to show that the bull has two heads. So, the two-headed bull in the photo is not real; it is a photoshopped image.
To sum it up, the two-headed Nandi (bull) in the photo is not real. It is a photoshopped image.
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source: news-factly

created: December 10, 2019

license: Creative Commons - Attribution - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

author: Sai Krishna Muthyanolla


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‘The two images in the collage are from different locations of the Konark temple’, says ASI - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
February 12, 2020
A collage with two images of Konark temple is being widely shared on social media. In the collage, one image has the text ‘Konark then’ and the other image has ‘Konark now’ written on the images. The claim is that the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has replaced sculptures at a location in Konark temple with that of plain stones as part of the restoration. Let’s analyze the authenticity of the claim in the post.
The Archeological Survey of India (ASI), as part of the restoration, has replaced the sculptures on the Konark Temple with plain stones.
Fact: The two images in the collage are from different locations of the Konark temple. The image with sculptures is from Natya Mandapa while the image with plain stones is from the plinth of Jagmohana (the main temple). So, the claim is FALSE.
When searched on Twitter regarding the claim in the post, a couple of tweets by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) with the same collage were found. In the first tweet, the ASI has clarified that the two images in the collage are from different locations of the Konark temple and termed the claim with which it is going viral as ‘false and misleading’. In the collage, the image with sculptures is from Natya Mandapa while the image of the plain stones is from the plinth of Jagmohana (the main temple).
In the second tweet, ASI has written– ‘The plain stonework shown in the image was done in the mid1980s. ASI used plain stone only wherein there was no evidence left & as per ASI’s the then archaeological policy only such portions were filled with plain stones. ASI would like to confirm that no sculpture has been replaced’.
The plain stone work shown in the image was done in mid1980s. ASI used plain stone only wherein there was no evidence left & as per ASI’s the then archaeological policy only such portions were filled with plain stones. ASI would like to confirm that no sculpture has been replaced pic.twitter.com/m4W7wjYkeJ
‘PIB Fact Check’ has also termed the claim about Konark temple sculptures being replaced with plain stones as ‘false’ and it can be seen here.
To sum it up, the two images in the collage are from different locations of the Konark temple.
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created: February 12, 2020


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The two kids in the photo are missing from Coimbatore, not L.B. Nagar (Hyderabad) - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
September 10, 2019
A photo of two kids is being shared widely on social media with a claim that there are missing from L.B. Nagar, Hyderabad. Let’s try to analyze the claim made in the post.
Photo of the kids missing from L.B. Nagar, Hyderabad.
Fact: Kids in the photo are not missing from L.B. Nagar (Hyderabad) but from Coimbatore. The Rachakonda Police has tweeted that no such missing case was reported in L.B. Nagar. The Ramanathapuram Police in Coimbatore has confirmed that the two kids in the photo and their father are missing from Coimbatore, and a missing case was filed at their station. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
When looked for some information on the missing children, it was found that the Rachakonda Police has tweeted the same photo and wrote that no such missing case was registered at L.B. Nagar Police Station. They also called it as ‘Fake news’.
We urge the citizens not to believe/spread the #FakeNews. #RachakondaPolice @TelanganaDGP @TelanganaPolice @hydcitypolice @cyberabadpolice @XpressHyderabad @timesofindia @IGWomenSafety @DCPEASTZONE pic.twitter.com/KSswo7mfRx
It was found that Tamil actor Dhanush has also tweeted the same photo without specifying the location of missing. The same photo was also shared as a missing case from Coimbatore.
When searched on Google with the keywords ‘குழந்தைகளைக் காணவில்லை’ (‘kids missing’ in Tamil), it was found that a local news website in Coimbatore has written an article on this missing case. In the article, it was found that a missing case regarding the two kids (Shasha Laydisa (9) and Sarah Laydisa (4)) and their father (Ashwin Terry Sam (37)) was filed by the kids’ mother at Ramanathapuram Police Station (Coimbatore). To confirm the news, FACTLY has contacted the Ramanathapuram Police Station. The Ramanathapuram SI has confirmed that a missing case has been filed at their station regarding the two kids in the photo. So, it can be concluded that the two kids in the photo are in no way connected to L.B. Nagar or Hyderabad.
To sum it up, the two kids in the photo are missing from Coimbatore, not L.B. Nagar (Hyderabad).
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created: September 10, 2019


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The U.S. government did not remove Dicyanin from circulation, and there is insufficient evidence to support its supernatural properties - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
December 29, 2023
A video circulating on social media discusses the research of British medical electrician Walter John Kilner, who explored the application of dicyanin dye in detecting electromagnetic radiation beyond the visible light spectrum, through the naked eye. The video asserts that after Kilner’s discovery, the American government has removed dicyanin dye from circulation, and information about it is now inaccessible online. In this article, we aim to verify the accuracy of these assertions presented in the video.
Claim: The U.S. government has removed dicyanin dye from circulation due to its supernatural properties.
Fact: While Kilner’s study proposed the concept of the human aura through his endeavor to create a device using dicyanin dye, numerous researchers rejected his findings. Additionally, there is no compelling evidence to support the assertion of supernatural properties associated with dicyanin. Furthermore, contrary to claims, dicyanin dye is actively employed for laboratory purposes in the United States, particularly in the fields of astronomy and spectrochemical research. It’s noteworthy that dicyanin is not listed among the chemicals regulated under the Toxic Substances Control Act. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.
As asserted in the viral video, Walter John Kilner, in his book titled ‘The Human Atmosphere’ did put forth the idea of the human aura. Kilner’s study was based on his attempt to invent a device by which the naked eye might be trained to observe auric activity.
After Kilner’s investigation, while some researchers endorsed his findings, others dismissed his studies. A 1912 review featured in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) pointed out that despite Kilner’s assertion of the aura as a “purely physical phenomenon,” the evidence did not substantiate this perspective. Additional research conflicting with Kilner’s viewpoint can be viewed here, and here. None of these studies endorsed the supernatural abilities of dicyanin.
In contrast to the assertion that the U.S. government has removed dicyanin from circulation and restricted access to information about it, the substance is actually easily obtainable for industrial purposes. The United States National Institute of Standards and Technology uses dicyanin dye for laboratory purposes in the fields of astronomy and spectrochemical research (here & here). The institution does not mention anything about dicyanin dye possessing supernatural properties.
It’s worth noting that dicyanin is not included in the list of chemicals regulated under the Toxic Substances Control Act (here & here). Furthermore, it does not appear in the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry maintained by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Therefore, all these findings confirm that dicyanin is not banned, and there is no substantial evidence to support claims of its supernatural properties.
To sum it up, the U.S. government did not remove dicyanin from circulation, and there is insufficient evidence to support its supernatural properties

created: December 29, 2023


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The U.S. Government has neither sacked Dr. Fauci nor admitted that the COVID-19 virus is man-made - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
June 21, 2021
A video is being shared on social media with a claim that the U.S. government has sacked Dr. Fauci and admitted that the COVID-19 virus is man-made. Dr. Fauci is the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the Chief Medical Advisor to the U.S. President. Let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Video of the U.S. government sacking Dr. Fauci and admitting that the COVID-19 virus is man-made.
Fact: The video shows Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene’s press conference regarding the ‘Fire Fauci Act’ (Bill) introduced by her in the House of Representatives. The ‘Fire Fauci Act’ (Bill) is yet to be passed. Dr. Fauci has not been sacked by the U.S. government. He is still the Director of NIAID. Also, the U.S. government has not admitted that the COVID-19 virus is man-made. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
When we searched about the video in the post, it was found that the woman in the video is Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. The posted video is from 15 June 2021 when she held a press conference regarding the ‘Fire Fauci Act’ (Bill) introduced by her in the House of Representatives.
The Bill proposes to reduce the salary of the NIAID Director to $0 until Dr Fauci is removed from the post and a new Director is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The ‘Fire Fauci Act’ (Bill) is yet to be passed in the House of Representatives and Senate.
Is Dr. Fauci sacked?
Dr. Fauci has not been sacked by the U.S. government. He is still the Director of NIAID.
On 04 June 2021, when asked about Dr. Fauci, the President replied – “Yes, I’m very confident in Dr. Fauci.”
Did the U.S. government admit that the COVID-19 virus is man-made?
No such admission has been made by the U.S. government. On 26 May 2021, the U.S. President said that he has asked the Intelligence Community to investigate the origins of COVID-19 and report back to him in 90 days. He also said – “As of today, the U.S. Intelligence Community has “coalesced around two likely scenarios” (whether it emerged from human contact with an infected animal or from a laboratory accident) but has not reached a definitive conclusion on this question.”
To sum it up, the U.S. government has neither sacked Dr. Fauci nor admitted that the COVID-19 virus is man-made.


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The UN never recognised Abdul Kalam’s birthday as World Students' Day - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
October 27, 2021
15 October 2021 marked the 90th birth anniversary of the former Indian President, APJ Abdul Kalam. In this context, a social media post that claims that the UN has declared Kalam’s birthday as World Students’ Day has been in wide circulation. Let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: The UN declared 15 October, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam’s birthday, as World Students’ Day.
Fact: The UN did not proclaim Abdul Kalam’s birthday as World Students’ Day. In fact, much earlier, in December 2007, the UN adopted a resolution designating 15 October as the International Day of Rural Women. Representations were made in the past to the central government to declare Kalam’s birthday as National Students’ Day. However, the central government has not made any decision in this regard as on date. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.
15 October 2021 marked the 90 birth anniversary of former Indian President, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. Tributes poured in from all quarters on the occasion with several news agencies publishing special articles reminiscing his achievements and contributions to the nation. Most of these articles emphasised that in 2010, the United Nations declared 15 October as World Students’ Day in honour of Abdul Kalam. Even state-owned news agencies DD News and PIB have published the same claim in the past.
However, contrary to popular belief, the UN never adopted such a resolution. The list of International Days and Weeks recognised by the UN does not feature a World Students’ Day.
Generally, for the UN to declare any international day, a proposal has to be moved in the General Assembly by a member state, and after many deliberations, the proposal would be put to vote. For example, 21 June was declared International Day of Yoga after India submitted a proposal in the General Assembly. However, nothing of that sort has happened with respect to Kalam’s birthday in 2010 (64th and 65th session), as claimed in the news articles.
Moreover, one may be surprised to know that, much earlier, in December 2007, the UN adopted a resolution to designate 15 October as the International Day of Rural Women, recognising ‘the critical role and contribution of rural women, including indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty’.
Further, FACTLY reached out to UN India through email seeking clarification regarding World Students’ Day. Responding to our mail, UN India categorically stated that ‘United Nations has not declared former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam’s birthday as World Students Day. We have neither passed a resolution nor organised any event related to Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.’
What is the origin of this claim?
Through Google search, we found that this claim was initially made on 21 July 2010 on a blog with URL crazyengineers.com. Later, on 15 October 2010, as the news went viral, online media portal oneindia.com published an article stating there is no information available on the UN website in this regard.
Media repeated the fake claim multiple times over the years
Ever since the demise of Dr Abdul Kalam in July 2015, this news gained traction, so much so that almost all the mainstream media houses have been reporting the same fake claim every year on his birth anniversary. Zee News is among the first media outlets to have reported this claim, the day after Kalam’s demise in July 2015. The then governor of Assam and Nagaland, PB Acharya, also said, “Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s 79th birthday was recognised as World Students’ Day by the United Nations” as he paid tribute to the former president. It is likely that articles like these contributed immensely to the virality of this fake claim on social media.
In fact, prominent media houses like India Today, Indian Express, Times of India, Republic World, India TV, and many other media houses went a step ahead and reported that the UN assigned ‘Learning for people, planet, prosperity and peace’ as the theme for the occasion in 2020. Hindustan Times, First Post, and The Logical Indian attributed the same theme even to this year’s fictitious ‘World Students’ Day’. Reports on this by a few more media houses can be read here, here, here, here and here. Even Wikipedia has an entry on this and includes the articles of Zee News and Indian Express in the references section.
In reality, ‘Learning for people, planet, prosperity and peace’ was the theme assigned to celebrate the International Day of Education (24 January), 2020. The UN General Assembly proclaimed 24 January as International Day of Education in December 2018 in celebration of the role of education in fostering peace and development, and it is generally celebrated by UNESCO.
Media failed to check the authenticity of the news
The irony here is that while most mainstream media houses have been publishing articles regularly on Kalam’s birth anniversary about the UN declaring 15 October as World Students’ Day in 2010, they failed to notice that no media outlet carried such a story in 2010, when the UN apparently passed this resolution.
As the popular adage goes, ‘repeat a lie often enough and it becomes the truth’. Over the years, the circulation of this fake claim predominantly by mainstream news agencies has made this news reach more people across all walks of life and it has now become something of an urban legend. Even people holding constitutional positions like Union Ministers, State Governors, Members of Parliament, and even the Vice President, have also started referring to Dr Kalam’s birth anniversary as World Students’ Day in their tribute messages and addresses.
In 2019, when then Union Minister Prakash Javadekar referred to World Students’ Day in his tribute message to Dr Abdul Kalam on his birth anniversary, The New Indian Express published an article differing with this popular belief. This article categorically stated that the UN did not announce any such day in honour of Abdul Kalam. The article reported, ‘Rajiv Chandran, National Information Officer, UN Information Centre for India, and Bhutan told Express over the phone that no such announcement was made by the organisation’.
However, this clarification did not stop other media houses from repeating the same fake claim. Multiple news agencies continued to claim Kalam’s birthday as World Students’ Day in their articles even after that. It is ironic that no news agency tried to check the authenticity of the news all these years. In fact, a simple search on the UN website would have proved them wrong, but no news agency seems to have done that. And thus, this fake claim has come to become an accepted fact and has been in circulation all these years. Dr Kalam’s love for students and his efforts in promoting education might be the reason why so many people have accepted this claim unquestioningly.
Representations to recognise Kalam’s birthday
Representations were made in the past to the central government in this regard. In 2019, former Rajya Sabha MP from Telangana, Anand Bhaskar Rapolu, wrote a letter to the then Union HRD minister seeking to declare Dr Kalam’s birthday as National Students’ Day. A fun fact about this is that even in this letter in support of his demand, the former MP emphasised that the United Nations has already declared this day as ‘World Students’ Day’. However, at the time of writing this article, the central government is yet to decide on this matter.
To sum it up, the UN never recognised Dr Abdul Kalam’s birthday as World Students’ Day.

created: October 27, 2021


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The union government is not offering any unemployment allowance under the scheme Pradhan Mantri Berojgari Bhatta Yojana - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
July 7, 2023
A message claiming that the government is giving an allowance of Rs 3,000 per month to unemployed youth under the Pradhan Mantri Berojgari Bhatta Yojana is being circulated on social media platforms. A post sharing this news outlines the requirements to be fulfilled to access the benefits provided by this program. Through this article let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Government is giving an allowance of Rs 3,000 per month to unemployed youth under the Pradhan Mantri Berojgari Bhatta Yojana.
Fact: Government of India is not running any scheme with the name Pradhan Mantri Berojgari Bhatta Yojana, providing unemployment allowance to the youth. PIB & Indian Cybercrime Coordination Center has declared the news circulating on social media about the unemployment allowance scheme as false and warned the public about deceptive websites operating under this scheme’s name. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.
The Indian government is not running any scheme with the name Pradhan Mantri Berojgari Bhatta Yojana, providing unemployment allowance to the youth. Additionally, websites operating under this name are fraudulent and aim to deceive users into sharing their sensitive information.
On multiple occasions when similar messages gained popularity, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) has refuted the claim, stating that the government does not offer any unemployment allowance under the name Pradhan Mantri Berojgari Bhatta Yojana (here, here, here & here).
एक वायरल #Whatsapp मैसेज में दावा किया जा रहा है कि प्रधानमंत्री बेरोजगारी भत्ता योजना के तहत सरकार बेरोजगार युवाओं को हर महीने ₹6,000 का भत्ता दे रही है। #PIBFactCheck
▶यह मैसेज फर्जी है।
▶भारत सरकार ऐसी कोई योजना नहीं चला रही।
▶कृपया ऐसे मैसेज फॉरवर्ड ना करें। pic.twitter.com/XDUURi2ahH
The Ministry of Home Affairs ‘Indian Cybercrime Coordination Center’ has declared the news circulating on social media about the unemployment allowance scheme as false (here, here & here). They have also cautioned the public regarding the existence of deceptive websites operating under this scheme’s name. Furthermore, they have advised that URLs starting with http:// are insecure and recommended accessing only websites that begin with https://.
"बेरोजगारी भत्ता योजना" धोखाधड़ी : सावधान रहें pic.twitter.com/4v4vlerzpA
Chhattisgarh government is implementing the Berojgari Bhatta Yojana:
Although the Union Government does not have a specific unemployment scheme called Berojgari Bhatta Yojana, certain state governments, such as Chhattisgarh, have implemented a scheme under the same name.
Eligible educated youth will receive an unemployment allowance under this scheme for an initial period of one year. If the individual is unable to secure suitable employment during this one-year period, the duration of the unemployment allowance can be extended for an additional year. However, in any case, the total period of receiving the unemployment allowance shall not exceed two years.
To sum it up, the union government is not offering any unemployment allowance under the scheme Pradhan Mantri Berojgari Bhatta Yojana.


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The Un’pellet’able Truth – the case against use of metal pellets
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
October 12, 2016
The casualty figure in the ongoing unrest in Jammu & Kashmir has crossed 90 with the death of the 12-year-old Junaid. We look at the SOP to be employed in crowd control and why metal pellets need to go.
The casualty figure in the ongoing unrest in Jammu & Kashmir reached 91 with the death of the 12-year-old Junaid who succumbed to pellet injuries. Since July 2016, 91 people lost their lives and several injured by the metal pellets used in shotguns by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Jammu and Kashmir State Police.
The impact of Pellet Guns
This X-ray is of 14-year old Insha Mallik, on July 16,2016. The multiple dots in the X-ray indicate the pellets that have penetrated into her head and face.  According to her family, Insha was on the first floor of her home, when the CRPF in Kashmir shot her with pellets. Doctors say, the pellets ruptured her right eye and it popped out. The remaining eye is lacerated, has no perception of light and has no chance of recovery.
Tauseef Mustafa /AFP); File photo : Greater Kashmir
According to the Jammu & Kashmir Directorate of Health Services,
While the need to have effective tools for crowd control is important, the purpose behind these instruments need to be understood. The security forces in Kashmir term the pellet gun as a non-lethal or less lethal weapon. Pellet guns were introduced in the state of Jammu & Kashmir in 2010 after high civilian casualties due to the use of firearms. But these non-lethal weapons are causing very lethal injuries.
Characteristics of pellets used in Kashmir
The following are the characteristics of the pellet guns used in Kashmir.
So imagine you are in a group of people being shot at, once the gun is triggered, metal pellets are indiscriminately sprayed in the area. So even if you are not the violent protestor in the group, not even part of the clashes, there is no way to target and control and hence you will be a victim of penetrating multiple pellets, may be in the eye, in the head or the heart. So at best, the person holding the weapon can choose a direction of the spraying and nothing else will be in his control as several pellets journey through the bodies of people of all ages and gender.  They cannot be called non-lethal, cannot be used to disperse protestors, cannot be indispensable ammunition because they might be logistically easy to carry and be sprayed like watering a garden. The consequences are grave, the pain and suffering they will cause for generations is unfathomable, the lives that they have already been blinded and killed by them are proof enough.
The Kashmir Context
All the security forces are bound by standard operating procedures (SOP) while using their weapons for crowd control. So it is a basic expectation that from both the CRPF and the Jammu and Kashmir Police that the atrocious use of metal pellets since July had some reasonable assessment and backing of their standard operation procedure. A copy of the SOP dated 2011 of these procedures do not mention the use of pellet guns as a weapon for crowd control. A copy of the SOP was given to Mr. Venkatesh Nayak in response to an application under RTI. The 2011 SOP Clearly outlines
In response to a PIL filed in the Jammu & Kashmir High Court, the CRPF in its affidavit stated that it used 8650 liters of tear smoke shells, 2671 plastic pellets, 1715 rubber bullets and 840 tear smoke grenades and 1.3 million metal pellets between 8 July and 11 August 2016. The CRPF also said that it would have no recourse in extreme situations but to open fire with rifles causing more fatalities if pellet guns are banned. It also stated that in a dynamic situation, it is difficult to go in for precise aimed firing of a moving, bending and running target. The sheer number of eye injuries when the intention is to fire below the waist and on the limbs is testimony to this helplessness. The facts furnished by the CRPF itself make a case against the use of metal pellets on civilians.
When a force handling a certain kind of weapon or ammunition finds that it is inadequately equipped, trained to use it in a certain scenario, it is a red flag. In this case, it is obvious that the pellets have been triggered from short ranges, considering the high impact and velocity assessed due to the depth of their penetration inside the human bodies. According to the Indian Express, the Jammu and Kashmir police admitted to the court that it is not always possible to maintain the prescribed distance while using metal pellets. So why then do they consider this piece of ammunition indispensable?  If firing cannot be precise, distances cannot be maintained, what is the pressing need to use them. If it is beyond procedure handbooks, it is then just an equation of the aggressor and the victim.
Additionally, the material of the pellets itself is horrific. The metal pellets used are made of lead. According to The Human Society of United States, lead is a toxic metal for which there is no safe human exposure level. Several studies have also indicated that ammunition made of lead fragments very easily and very far from the actual wound, making it extremely difficult to remove completely. It is appalling that while the rest of the world is worrying about removing lead from paints and water pipes because they indirectly harm humans, we are shooting young men, women and children with lead in their eyes, chest and everywhere else on the body.
What is the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)?
In 2010, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) constituted a task force under the chairmanship of the Union Home Secretary to recommend SOP to deal with public agitations with non-lethal measures. The Director General of the Bureau of Police Research & Development was a member of this task force. The task force submitted its report in 2011with a detailed booklet on SOP to deal with public agitations with non-lethal measures. The booklet on SOP was shared in response to a RTI application by Mr. Venkatesh Nayak in 2012.
The SOP’s objective as stated in the document is to provide guidelines for dispersal of an unlawful assembly with minimum necessary force and minimum possible collateral damage. The SOP indicate steps to be taken in special situations like the following
The SOP indicate several options for crowd control like water cannons, stingers, dye marker grenades, pepper balls, net guns and stink bombs. It will be important then to verify if all the options present were used and prioritized before using the deadly pellets for stone pelting mobs.
What did the CRPF say?
The CRPF also says that it was largely outnumbered by the protestors and feared damage to its personnel as well as the stations and public property. While the CRPF resists any restriction on the use of these weapons, the Northern Army Commander Lieutenant General DS Hooda suggested that alternative non-lethal options to disperse the crowds are available like sonic weapons, pepper ammunition and chili grenades as the less harmful options.
Simmering tensions, high casualties and pressure from civic and human rights organizations has pressed the Union government to constitute an expert committee to review the use of pellet guns and the possibility of other non-lethal forms of crowd control. The report has been submitted to the Union government and has not been made public yet.
According to The Hindu, dated September 2, one of the committee members disclosed that pump actions guns will be weapon the security forces will continue to use for crowd control but the pellets will not be of metal, but of soft plastic, polymer, rubber and even paper. The committee is believed to have also explored acoustics, Vehicle Mounted Active Denial System (VMADS) but have found them to be unfit to use in the Kashmir context. The committee seems to be in the favor of PAVA shells.
What are PAVA Shells?
As per a PTI report, PAVA stand for Pelargonic Acid Vanillyl Amide, also called Nonivamide an, organic compound found in chilli pepper. According to Scoville scale, a measurement of pungency and spicy heat in peppers, PAVA has been listed as above peak. Above peak indicates severe irritation like skin burning sensation, which gets worse with contact with water in a temporary form. It is believed that PAVA shells have been under testing for over a year at the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research in Lucknow.
The review committee stated that this can be categorized as less lethal ammunition and once fired, the shells burst out to temporarily stun, immobilize and paralyze the targets in a more effective way than tear gas or pepper spray. The Tear Smoke Unit of the Border Security Force in Gwalior will be bulk producing these shells, close to 50,000 rounds for the first lot.
“PAVA shells have the potential to be used in an “arbitrary or indiscriminate” manner. The concentration of chemical irritants should be as low as possible to ensure that they do not cause unnecessary harm, and to restrict the impact to the people targeted. The use must be carefully measured, targeted and controlled, and should take into account factors such as the proximity of schools or hospitals” said Aakar Patel, executive director of Amnesty International India.
On the outset, the choice of PAVA seems likes a bio safe and less lethal option. But it might be too early to conclude that this will be game changer in crowd control for the security forces and a non-lethal option for the people of Kashmir who have been bruised and wounded by metal pellets. The government and the forces need to understand that they are walking a thin line, another miscalculation could plummet them to a place, where they can never ever rise again.
Importance of training in dealing with these situations
Aakar Patel, executive director of Amnesty International India, also expressed his concern on any new weapons being introduced. He said, “Any new weapons or ammunition intended for use in law enforcement should be considered only if they meet operational needs which cannot be met in any other way. If they are assessed as being needed, they must be rigorously tested on their efficacy, including their accuracy, precision and reliability, and the degree of possible harm and other effects they may cause. Security force personnel must receive adequate training and certification as a precondition before being allowed to use new weapons during law enforcement. The training should also sensitize them on the underlying principles on the use of force. The use of new weapons must also be subject to thorough reporting, supervision and control mechanisms in order to continually evaluate their effectiveness, effects and risks.”
In fact, the SOP document of the BPR&D also emphasizes the importance of training & sensitizing the security force in dealing with such situations.
It will also be important to wait and see the expert committee’s report to also understand if any of these latest incidents in Jammu & Kashmir have been video recorded as required by the SOP.  This will not only help understand the challenges faced by the Rapid Action unit, the riot control wing of the CRPF but also help analyze the merit of such force being used in a particular situation. It can make both parties involved more accountable for their behavior in the law and order context. A body camera of some sort that can be mounted without compromising the riot gear of the personnel might help in recording the violent protestors as well as assessing the situation and its perceived need for force.
Human dignity and rights are howling for a chance in Kashmir and the beginning can be the end of the metal pellet.

created: October 12, 2016


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The US federal government has not announced a solar panel installation scheme that provides an incentive of up to $8500 - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
September 19, 2023
A social media post claiming that the US government provides an incentive of up to $8500 for homeowners in the US who install solar panels on their roofs for free is being widely shared.  Let’s fact-check this claim through this article.
Claim: The federal government provides an incentive of up to $8500 for homeowners who install solar panels on their roofs for free.
Fact:  According to the Department of Energy website, the US federal government does not offer such a scheme. But Americans who install solar panels from 2022 to 2032 will receive a 30% federal tax credit. Hence, the claim made in the post is False.
Firstly, we performed a basic keyword search on the internet to check if there were any circulars or press releases on the Department of Energy’s website. This search revealed that the Department of Energy, US, is not offering any such incentive.
However, the US government offers (here and here) a “30% federal tax credit” if one installs a solar photovoltaic system between 2022 and 2032, potentially reducing the cost of installation by more than $7,500 for an average system.
A spokesperson for the Department of Energy, Becca Jones-Albertus, told AFP Fact-Check that “Consumers should be careful about offers that seem too good to be true, and can contact the Federal Trade Commission to report scams and other bad business practices.”  Additionally, the Department of Energy also cautioned consumers about scammers who attempt to steal consumers’ personal data in the guise of verifying their eligibility for services.
Read this article by verifythis.com to know more about such misleading/ false information.
To sum up, the US federal government has not announced a solar panel installation scheme that provides an incentive of up to $8500

created: September 19, 2023


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The ventilator in this photo is bought with ‘PM CARES’ funds - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
June 16, 2020
A ventilator photo, with ‘PM CARES’ written over it, is being shared on social media with a claim that it is an edited photo. It is being claimed that, in the original photo, ‘PM CARES’ is not written over the ventilator and it was added using a photo-editing tool – ‘Photoshop’. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
‘PM CARES’ sticker on this ventilator is photoshopped.
Fact: When similar photos and videos of ventilators with the logos of ‘Bharat Electronics Limited’ and ‘Skanray’ companies are observed, it can be seen that ‘PM CARES’ is written over the ventilators. So, the ventilator was bought using the ‘PM CARES’ fund. Hence the claim made is FALSE.
In the posted collage, it is being claimed that the ventilator photo with ‘PM CARES’ is an edited one. While it is true that the text – ‘PM CARES’ can be inserted onto the ventilator photo using the Photoshop software, it is equally true that the text – ‘PM CARES’ can be removed from the ventilator photo using the same software (the process of removal of the name can be watched in the gif below). So, just by looking at two photos in the collage, it is difficult to conclude which is the real one.
But, on the ventilator, the logos of ‘Bharat Electronics Limited’ and ‘Skanray’ companies can be seen. Many other similar ventilators with the same company logos were found to be posted on social media which have ‘PM CARES’ written over them. Those posts can be seen here and here.
Also, Harsh Sanghavi, a BJP member and Surat MLA, has tweeted a video with the description that Surat city has received 25 ventilators from the ‘PM CARES’ fund. In the video, it can be seen that the ventilators have ‘PM CARES’ written over them. A doctor has also tweeted that the ventilators are currently being manufactured against the government order.
My #PMCARES
Surat is fortunate to have received 25 ventilators from #PMCaresFund.
Thanking PM Shri @narendramodi Ji for looking after the welfare of patients and providing them with the best. pic.twitter.com/752KrzNQNE
‘ANI’ has also reported that a senior government official has told them that, under the ‘Make in India’ initiative,  ‘Bharat Electronics Limited’ in collaboration with ‘Skanray’ has been given orders for 30,000 ventilators. It has also reported that ‘in the first slot, about 3000 ventilators have been distributed to States’. So, the ventilator was bought using the ‘PM CARES’ funds.
To sum it up, the ventilator photo, with ‘PM CARES’ written over it, is not photoshopped.
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The victim who was forcefully made to drink urine and water from a shoe in this video is not a Dalit - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
April 6, 2023
A video is being widely shared on social media claiming it is the visuals of a Dalit being forcefully made to drink water from the shoes of the upper caste people in India. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
Claim: Video of a group of upper caste people making a Dalit person drink water from their shoes.
Fact: The video shared in the post shows an old incident that took place in Rajasthan in 2020. Kaluram Devasi from Bhev village in Rajasthan was kidnapped by a group of men and forcefully made to drink urine and water from a shoe as punishment for allegedly having an affair with a married woman in the village. Kaluram Devasi belongs to the Rebari (Debasi) caste of the OBC community. Hence, the claim made in the post is Misleading.
On reverse image search of the screenshots of the video, a video with similar visuals was found published by the Dainik Bhaskar news website in 2020. The article reported it as the visuals of a youth being forcefully made to drink urine and water through shoes by a few men for having an affair with a married woman.
Reporting the complete details of the incident, several news websites published articles in 2020. A few of them can be seen here, here and here. According to the reports, the victim Kaluram Devasi from Bhev village in Rajasthan was kidnapped by a group of men and taken to the agricultural well in Suparna (Sardarpura) village near Sirohi on 11 June 2020. The accused forced the victim to drink urine from a liquor bottle and water from a shoe as punishment for allegedly having an affair with a married woman in the village. After the video had gone viral on social media, police registered the case on 9 men and arrested the six accused involved in this inhuman act.
As per the FIR, the seven men accused in the case and the victim Kaluram belong to the same Rebari (Debasi) caste of the OBC community. Had Kaluram been a Dalit, the accused would have been booked under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. But as per the copy of the FIR, the case was registered under IPC sections 143, 365, 384, 342 and 323. From all these pieces of evidence, it can be concluded that the victim who was forcefully made to drink water through the shoes does not belong to the Dalit community.
To sum it up, an old video of youth being forcefully made to drink urine and water from shoes in Rajasthan is shared now with a misleading narrative.


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The victims of the accident in Rasra (Ballia, UP) are not Muslims - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
April 28, 2020
A video of an accident is being shared widely on social media with a claim that a car driver had deliberately killed a Muslim woman and her daughter because of growing Islamophobia in Uttar Pradesh. Let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
A Muslim woman and her daughter were deliberately hit by a car in UP due to Islamophobia.
Fact: The victims of the car accident shown in the video are not Muslims. The victims were identified as Usha Devi and her daughter Pushpanjali. So, there is no communal angle to the incident. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
When screenshots of the video were run through Google Reverse Image Search, a ‘News 18 UP Uttarakhand’ video regarding the incident was found in the search results. From the video, it is be found that the incident happened at Rasra in Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh. When searched with the keywords, news articles regarding the incident were found. On ‘The Week’ website, it can be read that ‘the victims were identified as Usha Devi and her daughter Pushpanjali, 12.’ Other news articles regarding the accident can be read here and here.
Also, in the FIR filed on the incident, the names of the victims were written as Usha Devi and Pushpanjali. So, the victims are not Muslims.
A fewpeople were commenting on social media that the woman in the video is wearing a burqa. But, in the videos and photos posted by local news portals, it can be seen that the woman was not wearing a burqa
To sum it up, a video of an accident in Rasra (Ballia, UP) is being falsely shared with a communal narrative and the victims of the accident are not muslims.
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The video actually shows a road caved in MP, not the Bundelkhand Expressway (UP) - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
July 26, 2022
A video is being shared widely on social media with a claim that it shows the visuals of the Bundelkhand Expressway which was inaugurated by PM Modi in Uttar Pradesh recently. A caved in road is visible in the video. Let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: Visuals of the Bundelkhand Expressway which caved in recently due to heavy rains.
Fact: The posted video is not related to the Bundelkhand Expressway (UP). It shows a road caved in Madhya Pradesh. However, it is true that a part of the Bundelkhand Expressway caved in after recent rains. Hence the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
When the screenshots of the video were run through Google Reverse Image Search, many similar videos were found in the search results. A similar video was posted by ‘The Times of India’ with the following description – “Madhya Pradesh: Newly-constructed bridge between Bhopal and Hoshangabad damaged in the first rain”. Many other news agencies have also reported about this incident from Madhya Pradesh. Some of those news articles can be seen here, here, and here.
However, it is true that a part of the Bundelkhand Expressway (UP) was caved in after recent rains. Some of the visuals actually related to the Bundelkhand Expressway can be seen here and here.
To sum it up, the posted video shows a road caved in Madhya Pradesh, not the Bundelkhand Expressway (UP).


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The video claiming Chris Hedges recited a poem on Gaza at the 2024 Oscars is edited - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
March 20, 2024
A video (here, here) that appears to show American journalist Chris Hedges reciting a poem about Gaza at the 2024 Academy Awards ceremony is making rounds on social media. We will verify this claim through this article.
Claim: This video shows journalist Chris Hedges reciting a poem on Gaza at the Academy Awards ceremony in 2024.
Fact: The video is edited. It was created and uploaded on YouTube not by Chris Hedges but by a drag artist and filmmaker named Indie Nile. Therefore, the claim made in the post is False.
To fact-check this claim, we first watched the full video of the 2024 Academy Awards ceremony available on Disney+Hotstar. We found no evidence of Chris Hedges reciting a poem about Gaza during the ceremony.
We also examined the comments under the viral video where a user pointed out the video’s true origin. Based on this comment, we searched for Indie Nile on the internet and found his YouTube channel, which included a higher-quality, longer version (here) of the viral video.
According to the ‘About’ section, Indie Nile is a drag artist and filmmaker (his Instagram) who posts informational and opinion videos. The description of the YouTube video stated: ‘This year’s ceremony was missing an important apology. Enter Indie….’ confirming Indie Nile as the creator of the video, not Chris Hedges and also that footage from the origianal awards ceremony and some other photos were used to create the viral video’.
The description also mentioned that the audio used in the video is from ‘Journalist Chris Hedges’ letter to a child in Gaza.’ and gave a link to it. Through further keyword searches, we found that Chris Hedges recited this letter in a talk titled ‘The Genocide in Gaza,’ which he described as a letter he wrote to the children of Gaza.
To sum up, the video claiming to show Chris Hedges reciting a poem on Gaza at the Oscars in 2024 is an edited video created by Indie Nile, not an actual event from the ceremony.


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The video clip of Mallikarjun Kharge acknowledging that Congress is 'finished' is edited - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
May 22, 2024
A video featuring Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge is being shared on social media claiming that Kharge agreed that Congress is finished. In the footage, Kharge can be heard saying “Congress is finished…congress is dead…and now you will not see Congress anywhere” Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
Claim: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge publicly stated that the Congress is ‘finished.’
Fact: The video has been edited and shared out of context. In the original video, Mallikarjun Kharge stated “Ahmedabad is a city of immense historical significance. It is the birthplace of leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, and Dadabhai Naoroji, who contributed greatly to Gujarat’s prominence. Icons such as Gandhiji, Sardar Patel, Bholabhai Desai, and Vitthalbhai Patel, along with distinguished figures like the first Speaker of our Lok Sabha, Malvankar ji, and many others, laid the foundations of our nation. Among these, three presidents of our Congress Party—Sardar Patel, Mahatma Gandhi, and UN Dhebar—played pivotal roles in strengthening the party. This strong foundation, particularly in Ahmedabad, cannot be dismantled by anyone. Some people say that the Congress is finished, that it is dead and gone. I ask those who make these claims to remember that Ahmedabad is the holy place of Mahatma Gandhi. Surprisingly, there are those from this very place who seek to destroy Gandhiji’s principles.” Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
On performing reverse image search using the keyframes of the video, we discovered the longer version of this video on the Indian National Congress YouTube channel. It shows a rally held by the Indian National Congress in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on 3 May 2024, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
On reviewing the full video, we found that the video has been edited and shared out of context. From 12:03 timestamp Kharge can be heard saying “Ahmedabad is a city of immense historical significance. It is the birthplace of leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, and Dadabhai Naoroji, who contributed greatly to Gujarat’s prominence. Icons such as Gandhiji, Sardar Patel, Bholabhai Desai, and Vitthalbhai Patel, along with distinguished figures like the first Speaker of our Lok Sabha, Malvankar ji, and many others, laid the foundations of our nation. Among these, three presidents of our Congress Party—Sardar Patel, Mahatma Gandhi, and UN Dhebar—played pivotal roles in strengthening the party. This strong foundation, particularly in Ahmedabad, cannot be dismantled by anyone. Some people say that the Congress is finished, that it is dead and gone. I ask those who make these claims to remember that Ahmedabad is the holy place of Mahatma Gandhi. Surprisingly, there are those from this very place who seek to destroy Gandhiji’s principles.”
The original clip is edited from the timestamps 14:34 and 14:47 and shared as a viral post. The speech document uploaded on the official All India Congress Committee website also proves that this video is manipulated and shared.
From these, it is clear that Kharge was referring to people who claim that the Congress is finished and was not sharing his opinion.
To sum up, the video clip of Mallikarjun Kharge claiming that Congress is ‘finished’ is edited.


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The video does not show Congress MLA Asif Khan arguing with the police in Madhya Pradesh during Rahul Gandhi's yatra - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
October 18, 2023
Update (18 October 2023):
The video that has been debunked below earlier is now being shared again with a claim that Congress MLA from Karnataka had misbehaved with the police when he was stopped while chanting ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans. However, as explained below, the incident took place in Shaheen Bhag, Delhi, in November 2022. Also, the police arrested former Congress MLA Asif Mohammad Khan for misbehaving with police officers on confronting him for holding a meeting without permission. Neither the FIR filed by the police nor the news reports on the incident mentioned that Asif had raised slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’.
Published (21 June 2023):
A video of a few persons wearing Congress scarves arguing with the police is viral on social media, claiming that an MLA of Congress raised the Pakistan Zindabad slogan during Rahul Gandhi’s program in Madhya Pradesh. Let’s understand the facts behind this claim through this article.
Claim: A Congress MLA misbehaved with the police when he was stopped by the police while chanting ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans as part of a Rahul Gandhi’s program in Madhya Pradesh.
Fact: This incident took place in Shaheen Bhag, Delhi, in November 2022 and not in Madhya Pradesh during a program of Rahul Gandhi. The police arrested former Congress MLA Asif Mohammad Khan for misbehaving with police officers on confronting him for holding a meeting without permission. The Shaheen Bhag police registered a case against him. But as stated in the post, neither in the FIR filed by the police nor in the news reports on the incident was it mentioned that Asif had raised slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’.  So, the claim made in the post is False.
On searching the internet using the appropriate keywords to find out the facts behind this claim, we found several news stories (here, here, and here) about this incident, dated November 2022.
According to reports, the man in the video who is misbehaving with the police is identified as Asif Mohammad Khan. Police tried to stop a meeting organised by Asif without permission at the Tayyab Masjid in Delhi’s Shaheen Bhag area, but Asif lashed out at the police.
The incident occurred during the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) election campaign, in which Asif Khan’s daughter Ariba Khan was a candidate, and news reports claimed that Asif organised the meeting to support her. Nowhere in these reports,  is it mentioned that this happened during Rahul Gandhi’s program in Madhya Pradesh. Police registered a case against Asif Khan on 25 November 2022 and arrested him for this behaviour (here and here).
There is no mention of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans in the FIR registered by the police and in the news reports about this incident. Further, if we listen carefully to the audio in the viral video, it becomes clear that Asif Khan’s followers were not saying Pakistan Zindabad but Asif Khan Zindabad. News organisations added the same video in their stories, which can be seen here and here. In these videos, too, one can clearly hear people chanting Asif Khan Zindabad slogans.
To sum up, a false story is being shared on social media that former Congress MLA Asif Khan’s argument with the police during the MCD elections in Delhi took place in Madhya Pradesh, during Rahul Gandhi’s program.

created: October 18, 2023


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The video doesn’t show Telangana Traffic Police breaking the helmets of motorcyclists. - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
November 15, 2019
A video of Traffic Police breaking the helmets of a few motorcyclists is being shared widely on Facebook. The claim is that the incident took place in the Telangana state. Let’s try to check the authenticity of it.
Video of Telangana Traffic Police breaking the helmets of motorcyclists.
Fact: The video shows Hassan (Karnataka) Traffic Police, as part of their ‘Half-Helmets Operation’, breaking the half-helmets worn by motorcyclists. So, the claim is FALSE.
When one goes through the video,  the language heard isn’t Telugu. Also, in the comments section, a few users have written that the video is related to Karnataka.
When the video in the post is fragmented using ‘InVid’ plugin, many keyframes were obtained. When those keyframes were subjected to Google reverse image search with a filter in Kannada ‘ಪೊಲೀಸ್ ಹೆಲ್ಮೆಟ್’ (which means ‘Police helmet’), a keyframe was found in the article of ‘Public Tv’. As per this article, the Hassan City Traffic Police as a part of their ‘Half-Helmets Operation’ have broken down half-helmets worn by the motorcyclists. Information from a video of a YouTube news channel also corroborates that the incident in the video took place in Hassan(Karnataka).
During the search process, a tweet by the ‘Cyberabad Traffic Police’ regarding the video was also found. In this tweet, they have clarified that the video isn’t from Hyderabad and also, asked people not to wear half-helmets as they are incapable of protecting the head.
This video is NOT from Hyderabad city.
However, the half helmets are incapable of protecting the head of the rider during accidents. As per law, the headgear should cover the full head. pic.twitter.com/tyjQmrKIb2
To conclude, the video is not related to the Telangana state. It shows Hassan(Karnataka) Traffic Police breaking the half-helmets worn by motorcyclists.
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created: November 15, 2019


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The video in which people shout Kamal Nath’s name in Shivraj Singh’s rally is a doctored one - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
September 24, 2020
A post with a video in which one can hear the public shouting Kamal Nath’s name when Shivraj Singh Chouhan asked them to choose who is better as Chief Minister between him and Kamal Nath, is doing rounds on social media. The video was also tweeted (archive) by the official Twitter account of Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC). Through this article let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
मध्यप्रदेश उपचुनाव का परिणाम घोषित:
मंदसौर के सुवासरा पहुँचे मुख्यमंत्री शिवराज सिंह चौहान ने जनता से पूछा कि मुख्यमंत्री के रूप में शिवराज चौहान अच्छा या कमलनाथ, जनता ने एक स्वर में कहा कमलनाथ।
जनता खड़ी जिनके साथ,
उनका नाम है कमलनाथ। pic.twitter.com/aFWqjvgFEi
Video of public shouting Kamal Nath’s name when Shivraj Singh Chouhan asked them to choose who is better as Chief Minister between him and Kamal Nath.
Fact: The video in the post is doctored. In the original video it can be clearly heard public taking Shivaraj Singh Chouhan’s name when he asked them to choose who is better as Chief Minister between him and Kamal Nath. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
On searching YouTube with keywords ‘Shivaraj Singh rally Madhya Pradesh’, we found the longer version of the video in the post. The video is of Chief Minister Shivaraj Singh Chouhan’s public meeting in Sitamau, Mandsaur district, and the meeting was live streamed on 20 September 2020. In the video at the timestamp of 43.04, it can be clearly heard people taking Shivaraj Singh’s name when he asked public to choose who is better as Chief Minister between him and Kamal Nath.
Madhya Pradesh BJP’s official twitter handle took a jibe at MP Congress by quote tweeting the Congress tweet which shared the same video adding a comment ‘So IPL is not the only one using fake crowd noise.’
So IPL is not the only one using fake crowd noise. 🤣 https://t.co/vTLvArzyYv
Shivraj Singh Chouhan also quote-tweeted MP BJP’s  tweet adding a comment ‘It seems that the social media team of Madhya Pradesh Congress will be able to overcome all their leaders in INC Political Lies (IPL) by becoming Champion.’
लगता है मध्यप्रदेश कांग्रेस की सोशल मीडिया टीम INC Political Lies (IPL) में उनके सब नेताओं को पीछे छोड़ चैम्पीयन बन कर ही दम लेगी… 😂 https://t.co/4OOLts6NtF
In the light of the by-polls which are set to take place in Madhya Pradesh very soon, posts like these are being shared with misleading claims.
To sum it up, a doctored video is shared as public shouting Kamal Nath’s name when Shivraj Singh Chouhan asked them to choose who is better a Chief Minister.

created: September 24, 2020


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The video is not related to Cyclone Fani. It’s an old video. - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
May 3, 2019
A video is being shared on Facebook with the claim that it shows the waves caused due to the recent cyclone, Fani. Let’s try to analyze the claim made in the post
The waves in the video are in the Bay of Bengal and were caused due to Cyclone Fani.
Fact: The same video was found to be uploaded last year on various social media platforms. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
When the video in the post is divided into frames using Invid tool and the frames are run through Yandex Reverse Image Search, similar videos can be found in the search results. The videos were uploaded on various social media channels with different titles in 2018. The same video was found on YouTube with the title “The impact of Cyclone Mkono on the island of Socotra Imagine yourself here amid the horrific tsunami”, uploaded on 23 May 2018. Also, the same video was found on Facebook, uploaded by a page called ‘Extreme Weather’ on 28 Aug 2018. So, it can be concluded that the video in the post is not the recent one.
To sum it up, the video is not related to Cyclone Fani. It’s an old video.


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The video is of Yaxi Expressway in Sichuan of China, not the one linking Pakistan - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
May 2, 2019
Many Facebook users are sharing a post with a video of an expressway saying it to be the  highway bridge constructed to connect China with Pakistan. Let’s try to analyze the claim made in the post.
Expressway seen in the video connects China with Pakistan.
Fact: The bridge shown in the video is the 240 km long bridge highway that connects two Chinese cities Ya’an and Xichang in Sichuan Province. Hence the claim is FALSE.
When the video in the post is run through the Invid, several keyframes were obtained. On using Google Reverse Image technique for each keyframe, a certain keyframe directed to the tweet by China’s Xinhua News channel. This tweet embedded a video which describes the expressway. As per the video, the bridge in the video is the 240 km long Yaxi Expressway connecting Ya’an city and Xichang city of Sichuan Province in China.
To sum it up, Yaxi Expressway in Sichuan of China is being falsely shared as the 880 km bridge highway connecting China with Pakistan


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The video of a fan breaking the TV set isn’t after India vs Pakistan World Cup 2019 match - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
June 19, 2019
On Facebook, many users are posting a video claiming that a Pakistani fan has broken the TV set after their team lost to India in the recent World Cup match. Let’s try to check the veracity of the claims made in the post.
Pakistani fan breaking TV set after their team lost to India in the recent Cricket World Cup 2019 match.
Fact: The video shared is an old one. Since 2015, it has been in circulation with many versions. So, the claim that the video is after India vs Pakistan match in the recent World Cup 2019 isFALSE.
When the video in the post is run through InVid Plugin, many keyframes of it were obtained. When the keyframes obtained were used to do Google Reverse image Search technique with a filter “Tv set broken”, then a certain keyframe directed to the link of a YouTube video with the title “Pakistan out and Angry fans break TV..Cricket World Cup 2015”. On looking for the date of its upload, it was found to be March 20, 2015.
In YouTube, when searched with the keywords, “Pakistan fans break TV sets” then the same video with the title “Pakistani fans breaking TV after the Champions League match” was found and the date of its upload is June 4, 2017.
On looking further, the same video was found with the title “Bangladeshi fan reaction after loosing match with India” and the date of its upload is March 27, 2016.
The actual context of the video is not ascertained, but one thing is for sure that it isn’t after the recent World Cup match between India and Pakistan.
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The video of BJP's flag being waived is not from Balochistan. - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
May 13, 2019
A Facebook post with a video showing men and women waving the BJP flag is being shared widely. The post claims that BJP flags were waved in  Balochistan, a region in Pakistan, and that they believe that they can get independence if Modi comes back to power. Let’s try to analyze the authenticity of the video and claims made in the post.
BJP flags were waved in Pakistan’s Balochistan province
Fact: This video was taken when BJP’s candidate from Anantnag Parliamentary constituency (Jammu & Kashmir) Sofi Yousuf filed his nomination papers. Hence, the claim stated is FALSE
When seen in the comments section of the post, many of the respondents claim the video to be from Kashmir. A certain respondent even enclosed a video in the comments. The video has the title, “अनंतनाग से BJP उम्मीदवार Sofi Yousuf ने भरा नामांकन, लोगों में दिखा जबरदस्त जोश”. The upload date of this video was found to be March 30, 2019.
With the information obtained, when  Twitter advanced search is performed on BJP Jammu & Kashmir unit’s Twitter account between the dates 29th March and 1st April, a tweet with the date March 31, 2019, that has the truncated part of the video was found. In the tweet, it was written that, BJP’s Anantnag Parliamentary Constituency Candidate Sh. Sofi Yousuf accompanied by thousands of supporters has filed nomination papers in Anantnag.
To summarize, this isn’t the video from Balochistan. It is that of BJP’s candidate from Anantnag Sofi Yousuf filing his nomination papers.


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The video of India and China’s scuffle in 2017 is being shared as the recent 2019 conflict - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
September 27, 2019
In the light of recent face-off between Indian and Chinese army in eastern Ladakh, a post with a video is being shared on social media claiming it to be related to the recent face-off. Let’s examine the authenticity of the video and the message in this post.
Video of a face-off between Indian and Chinese soldiers on September 11, 2019.
Fact: The video is not of the face-off that happened on September 11, 2019, but of a conflict that took place on 15 August 2017 between Indian and Chinese soldiers near Pangong lake in Ladakh. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.
When searched with the keywords ‘India and China scuffle’ on Youtube, a search result showing a video published on 19 August 2017 by ‘The Times of India’ was obtained. This video shows the fight between Indian and Chinese soldiers across Pangong lake in Ladakh, however, on clear observation of this video from 45 to 48 seconds (on the bottom half), we notice same visuals shared in the post. Based on this information, it is understood that a selected portion of the 2017 video is taken and is being shared as a 2019 video in the context of the face-off between Indian and Chinese soldiers.
Also, an article published on  20 August 2017 by the ‘Hindustan Times’ was found on Google. This article also mentions about the scuffle that took place on 15 August 2017 between Indian and Chinese soldiers near Pangong lake in Ladakh and shared the same video.
To summarize, the video in the post has nothing to do with the 2019 face-off. It is of the face-off between Indian and Chinese soldiers that happened on 15 August 2017.
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created: September 27, 2019


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The video of people dancing to Lungi Dance song is from a quarantine centre in Tripura - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
June 14, 2020
A video of people dancing to the popular Lungi Dance song is being shared on social media with a claim that it is captured at the NSCI Worli Badminton Court Quarantine Centre in Mumbai. The same video (archived) is shared as that from a COVID-19 quarantine facility at the Trade Centre in Chennai, and also from Hyderabad. Let’s find out where this dance video was filmed.
Video of people dancing to the Lungi Dance song at a quarantine centre in Mumbai.
Fact: The video is not filmed in any quarantine centre in Mumbai. It is captured at the quarantine centre for COVID-19 patients at Hapania Exhibition Centre in Agartala, Tripura. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
The description of the video posted on Facebook mentions that the video was tweeted by  Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Nitesh Rane. So when searched for that tweet it is found that a few replied to his tweet with a tweet by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which mentions that the video is not from NSCI or any other quarantine facility in Mumbai.
https://t.co/Q9LqPkX7kG https://t.co/y7NJi86dUz
Many have also replied to Nitesh Rane’s tweet with an article from India.com which mentions that the video is from a quarantine centre in Tripura. BMC has also responded to his tweet with the same article.
https://t.co/Jlyt3WdGKg
Another video of this dance was uploaded on the YouTube channel of Inside Northeast which mentions that this video is from the Hapania COVID-19 facility in Tripura. The same has been reported by ‘NDTV‘ and ‘Zee News‘. On 19 May 2020, Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb has announced to set up a 1000-bed centre at the TIDC Exhibition centre, Hapania. He has later shared the pictures of the facility mentioning that it can accommodate 400 beds and will be managed by Tripura Medical College (TMC). One can notice the similarities between these pictures and the facility where the Lungi Dance video is shot.
For providing treatment to #COVID19 patients, TIDC & West Tripura Dist Admn have set up COVID Care Centre in mission mode at Hapania Exhibition Hall. It can accommodate 400 beds & will be managed by TMC under supervision of Health Dept. 5 patients have already been shifted there. pic.twitter.com/ujfl9iBZfO
To sum it up, the video of people dancing to the popular Lungi Dance song at a quarantine centre in Tripura is shared as that from a quarantine facility in Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad.
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The video of PM Modi's recent election rally in Bihar's Maharajganj is being falsely shared as visuals of Rahul Gandhi’s rally - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
May 23, 2024
Amidst the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, a post featuring a video showing an aerial view of a large gathering of people in an open ground is being widely shared across social media platforms (here, here, & here). The post claims that the video shows the huge crowd that gathered for a recent election campaign meeting of Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi. Through this article, let’s fact-check the claim made in the post
Claim: Visuals of a huge crowd that gathered at a recent election campaign meeting of Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi.
Fact: This viral video shows visuals of a recent election rally held on 21 May 2024, by PM Modi in Maharajganj, Bihar. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
To verify the authenticity of the viral claim and gather more information about the video, we conducted a Google reverse image search using keyframes from the viral video. This search led us to a similar video(archived link) uploaded on the official X (Twitter) account of Prime Minister Modi on 21 May 2024, with the caption: “The huge crowd in Maharajganj shows that BJP-NDA in Bihar is receiving unprecedented blessings from my family members here”. (translated from Hindi to English). According to this post, the visuals in the video show an election rally held by the BJP-led NDA in Maharajganj, Bihar.
महाराजगंज में उमड़ा जनसैलाब बता रहा है कि बिहार में भाजपा-एनडीए को यहां के मेरे परिवारजनों का अभूतपूर्व आशीर्वाद मिल रहा है! pic.twitter.com/NHfi9tofB4
This video is also shared on the official X(Twitter) account of the BJP and the official Instagram accounts of PM Modi and Bihar state BJP.
महाराजगंज में उमड़ा ये जनसैलाब बता रहा है कि बिहार में भाजपा-एनडीए को अभूतपूर्व आशीर्वाद मिल रहा है! pic.twitter.com/GY2uHtVPuj
Using relevant keyword searches, we found several news reports (here, here, here & here) regarding the election rally held in Bihar on 21 May 2024. According to these reports, PM Modi addressed election rallies in Motihari and Maharajganj, Bihar on 21 May 2024. A large crowd of supporters gathered at these meetings to listen to PM Modi. Additional news reports about PM Modi’s election rally can be seen here and here. From all this information, it is evident that the viral video shows visuals of an election rally held by PM Modi in Bihar on 21 May 2024.
To sum up, the video of PM Modi’s recent election rally in Bihar’s Maharajganj is being falsely shared as visuals of Rahul Gandhi’s rally.


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వక్ఫ్ భూములకు సంబంధించి గుల్బర్గా జిల్లా వక్ఫ్ సలహా కమిటీ చైర్మన్ మాట్లాడిన వీడియోను వక్రీకరించి షేర్ చేస్తున్నారు - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
May 16, 2023
ఇటీవల జరిగిన కర్ణాటక ఎన్నికల్లో కాంగ్రెస్ పార్టీ గెలిచిన నేపథ్యంలో ఒక ముస్లిం వ్యక్తి గుల్బర్గాలోని 17,000 ఎకరాల వక్ఫ్ భూముల గురించి ప్రసంగిస్తున్న వీడియో ఒకటి సోషల్ మీడియాలో విస్తృతంగా షేర్ అవుతోంది.  ఐతే వీడియోలోని వ్యక్తి “వక్ఫ్ బోర్డ్ అనేది కరెక్ట్‌గా పని చేస్తే ముస్లింలు ఏ పని చేయనవసరం లేదని, ఏ లోను కోసం తిరిగే అవసరం లేదని, గుల్బర్గాలోనే 17వేల ఎకరాలు ఉన్నాయి, ఇవిగాక ఇంకా చాలా భూములు ఉన్నాయి అవన్నీ మనం తీసుకుందాం, ఇప్పటినుండి మనకు ఏ రూల్స్ అవసరం లేదు” అని  ప్రసంగించాడని చెప్తూ ఈ వీడియోను షేర్ చేస్తున్నారు. ఈ కథనం ద్వారా అందులో ఎంత నిజముందో చూద్దాం.
క్లెయిమ్: కర్ణాటకలో కాంగ్రెస్ పార్టీ గెలిచిన నేపథ్యంలో గుల్బర్గాలోని 17,000 ఎకరాల వక్ఫ్ భూములు మనమే తీసుకుందాం అని ఒక ముస్లిం నేత ప్రసంగిస్తున్న వీడియో.
ఫాక్ట్(నిజం): వీడియోలో మాట్లాడుతున్న వ్యక్తి గుల్బర్గా జిల్లా వక్ఫ్ సలహా కమిటీ చైర్మన్ సయ్యద్ హబీబ్ సర్మస్త్. తాను ఈ ప్రసంగం కర్ణాటక ఎన్నికల ఫలితాలు రాకముందే చేసాడు. ముస్లింలు తమ వక్ఫ్ బోర్డును సక్రమంగా నిర్వహిస్తే, వారికీ రిజర్వేషన్లు, లోన్లు అవసరం లేదన్న ఉద్దేశంతో మాట్లాడాడు. పైగా చాలా వరకు వక్ఫ్ భూములు ముస్లింలే ఆక్రమించుకున్నారని కూడా తను ఈ ప్రసంగంలో అన్నాడు. హబీబ్ సర్మస్త్ చేసిన ఈ ప్రసంగాన్ని వక్రీకరించి షేర్ చేస్తున్నారు. కావున పోస్టు ద్వారా చెప్పేది తప్పు.
వైరల్ అవుతున్న వీడియోలో ప్రసంగిస్తున్నది గుల్బర్గా జిల్లా వక్ఫ్ సలహా కమిటీ చైర్మన్ సయ్యద్ హబీబ్ సర్మస్త్. ఐతే ఈ ప్రసంగంలో సర్మస్త్, గుల్బర్గాలోని వక్ఫ్ భూములకు సంబంధించిన వ్యాఖ్యలు వేరే ఉద్దేశంలో చేసాడు. పైగా ఈ ప్రసంగానికి కర్ణాటకలో కాంగ్రెస్ అధికారంలోకి రావడానికి ఎటువంటి సంబంధం లేదు.
ఈ ప్రసంగాన్ని హబీబ్ సర్మస్త్ తన ఫేస్‌బుక్‌లో 29 ఏప్రిల్ 2023 నాడు షేర్ చేసాడు. దీన్నిబట్టి ఈ ప్రసంగానికి కర్ణాటకలో కాంగ్రెస్ అధికారంలోకి రావడానికి ఎటువంటి సంబంధం లేదని స్పష్టమవుతుంది. ఎందుకంటే కర్ణాటక ఎన్నికల ఫలితాలు ఈ మధ్య 13 మే 2023న విడుదలైయ్యాయి.
ఒక మసీదు ప్రారంభోత్సవంలో చేసిన ఈ ప్రసంగంలో  మాట్లాడుతూ ”ముస్లింలకు రిజర్వేషన్లు అవసరం లేదు. ముస్లింలకు రుణాలు అవసరం లేదు. ముస్లింలు తమ వక్ఫ్ బోర్డును సక్రమంగా నిర్వహిస్తే ప్రభుత్వానికే మనం రుణాలు ఇవ్వవచ్చు. గుల్బర్గాలో వక్ఫ్ బోర్డు పరిధిలో 27 వేల ఎకరాల భూమి ఉంది. ఇందులో 17,000 ఎకరాలను ముస్లింలే ఆక్రమించుకున్నారు. జిల్లా వక్ఫ్ బోర్డు కమిటీ బాధ్యతలు చేపట్టినప్పటి నుంచి 40 ఏళ్లుగా ఆక్రమణకు గురైన 1,100 ఎకరాల భూమిని తిరిగి స్వాధీనం చేసుకున్నాను” అని సర్మస్త్ అన్నాడు.
“మన భూమి తిరిగి మనకు దక్కితే మన యువత భవిష్యత్తు భాగుపడుతుంది. అలా చేస్తే మన అమ్మాయిలు రూ. 5,000/ రూ. 10,000 రుణాల కోసం 2-3 గంటలు మైనార్టీ ఆఫీసు బయట క్యూలో నిలబడాల్సిన పని ఉండదు”,  అని కూడా అన్నాడు.
ఐతే సర్మస్త్ చేసిన ఈ ప్రసంగాన్ని తప్పుగా అర్ధం చేసుకొని, ‘మనకు ఏ రూల్స్ అవసరం లేదు, ముస్లింలు ఏ పని చేయనవసరం లేదని, ఏ లోను కోసం తిరిగే అవసరం లేదు, వక్ఫ్ బోర్డ్ భూములు మనమే తీసుకుందాం’ అని అన్నట్టు వక్రీకరించి షేర్ చేస్తున్నారు.
చివరగా, వక్ఫ్ భూములకు సంబంధించి గుల్బర్గా జిల్లా వక్ఫ్ సలహా కమిటీ చైర్మన్ మాట్లాడిన వీడియోను వక్రీకరించి షేర్ చేస్తున్నారు.


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The video of the Inspire resort located in South Korea is falsely shared as a Chinese mall. - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
January 10, 2024
A video showcasing a beautiful roof facade with LED displays is being shared on social media claiming that this video shows a mall that is located in China. Let’s fact-check this claim through this article.
Claim: This video shows a mall in China.
Fact: The visuals show the ‘Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort’ in Incheon, South Korea. Hence, the claim made in the post is False.
To check the veracity of the viral claim, we split the video into a few keyframes using the Invid tool and performed a reverse image search. This search led us to a post on Welele.es that contained the same video. This post described the location as Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort, South Korea.
To verify this, we then performed a secondary search with the relevant keywords leading us to the website and YouTube channel of the said Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort, which contained visuals that matched the viral video. The spot seen in the viral video is a place within this resort known as Aurora Entertainment Street, which, according to the Inspire Entertainment resort’s website, is “adorned with a 150m LED display that blankets the lofty ceilings and walls, showcasing captivating images.”
Many users on YouTube and Google Photos have posted videos of Aurora Entertainment Street, which you can see here and here. These videos contain visuals similar to those seen in the viral video. All of this evidence corroborates that the viral video does not show a mall located in China. On the contrary, it shows a spot in the Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort, which is located in South Korea.
To sum up, this video shows the Inspire resort located in South Korea, not a mall in China.

created: January 10, 2024


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The video shared as crocodile seen during rains in Patna is actually from Vadodara - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
October 1, 2019
A video of a crocodile seen in floodwater is being shared with the claim that the incident took place during the heavy rains in Patna. Let’s analyze the authenticity of that claim.
Video of a crocodile seen in floodwater during the heavy rains in Patna(Bihar)
Fact:  The video is that of crocodile seen in the streets of Vadodara (Gujarat). So, the claim made in the post is FALSE.
When the video in the post was uploaded in ‘Invid’ plugin, many keyframes were obtained. When these were reverse image searched on Google, a certain keyframe leads us to a longer video of that 20 secs clip. That video was uploaded on YouTube on August 4, 2019, by a channel ‘Gujarat News Live19’ with a Gujarati a title. The English translation of it is- ‘Due to heavy rains in Vadodara, crocodiles were seen in the floodwaters of the city’. When the keyframes were again subjected to reverse image search with a filter ‘Vododara floods crocodile’, a photo of the man with a brown T-shirt and a cap seen in the video was found in an article of ‘India TV’ that reported about National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) jawans catching a crocodile in Vadodara.
The same man can also be spotted in the articles of other newspapers which published regarding NDRF teams rescuing crocodiles in the flood waters of Vadodara. Those news reports can be seen here and here. ‘The Hindu’ has reported that a total of 50 crocodiles were rescued in Vadodara by the Wildlife activists during this monsoon.
To summarise, the video shared as crocodile seen during rains at Patna is actually from Vadodara.
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created: October 1, 2019


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The video showing farmers burning BJP flags is not recent; it is from 2021 - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
April 16, 2024
Amidst ongoing farmer protests at the Punjab-Haryana border, candidates from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) in Haryana are encountering significant resistance from farmers’ organizations during their election campaigns for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In this context, a video of a group of people burning the party flags of BJP is being shared on social media (here, here, and here) claiming that ‘yesterday (April 2024) in Ellenabad, farmers took down BJP’s campaign vehicle and burnt their flags.’ Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
Claim: Farmers took down BJP campaign vehicles and burnt the party flags during their election campaign for Lok Sabha elections in April 2024.
Fact: The video is from 2021 where the farmer organizations had burnt BJP flags during a protest in Ellenabad. It has nothing to do with the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign. Hence, the claim made in the post is MISLEADING.
On performing the reverse image search using the keyframes of the viral video, we found that the same video has been in circulation since 2021.
Further, we performed a relevant keyword search based on a hint provided in the post’s title, indicating that the event occurred in Ellenabad during a bye-election. This led us to the discovery of the same video that had been uploaded by a Haryana-based news channel called Bebak Aawaz.
Besides, a video capturing the incident was posted on the YouTube channel ‘Khas Haryana’ and ‘Aapni News’ on 07 October 2021. According to the report within the video, the demonstration depicted farmers protesting the BJP in Ellenabad in 2021.
To sum up, the video showing farmers burning BJP flags is not recent; it is from 2021.


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The video shows bodies of African migrants who died in a boat wreck in 2014, not of COVID-19 - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
April 9, 2020
A disturbing video of dead bodies being washed ashore is being shared on Facebook with the claim that some countries are throwing COVID-19 infected dead bodies into the seas. FACTLY has found that the video is five years old. In August 2014, a boat with African migrants has sunk off the Libyan coast on its way to Europe. The video shows dead bodies of those victims being washed ashore onto a beach in Libya.
Sources:
Claim – Facebook post (archived)
Fact – https://arabi21.com/story/771519/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Su9HqWj1Wt4
https://www.euronews.com/2014/08/25/dozens-of-migrant-bodies-are-washed-ashore-in-libya
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The video shows Lake Nahuel Huapi filled with volcanic ash. It is not Allen Alkhai desert - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
June 28, 2019
A video has been shared more than 1.4 lakh times on Facebook with a claim that it shows Allen Akhai Desert. Let’s try to check the claim made in the post.
The video shows moving sand in the Allen Alkhai desert.
Fact: The video is not that of a desert. It is Lake Nahuel Huapi (Argentina) which was filled with ash from the Puyehue volcano (Chile) in 2011. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
In the comment section of the post, a user commented that the video was taken at the Lake Nahuel Huapi in Argentina when it was filled with volcano ash. But another user contradicted the claims made by the initial user.
So, when googled with the keywords ‘Lake with ash’, a ‘Telegraph’ news article published in 2011 with the same video can be found in the search results. In the article, the video has the following description, “Lake Nahuel Huapi in Argentina fills with ash from the Puyehue volcano that is erupting in neighbouring Chile.” So, the video was not taken at the Allen Alkhai desert.
To sum it up, the video shows Lake Nahuel Huapi filled with volcanic ash. It is not Allen Alkhai desert.
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The video shows Pakistan Police beating protestors during a rally in Muzaffarabad (PoK) - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
January 3, 2020
A video is being shared widely on social media with a claim that it shows the brutality by the Uttar Pradesh Police on anti-CAA protestors. Let’s try to analyze the claim made in the post.
Video shows UP Police brutality.
Fact: The incident in the video took place at Muzaffarabad in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK). The police in the video are not Uttar Pradesh Police. Hence the claim made in the post is FALSE.
When the screenshots of the video were run through the Yandex Reverse Image Search, the same video was found in the search results. The video uploaded on YouTube has the description that the incident took place in Muzaffarabad (PoK) on 22 October 2019. So, when searched with the relevant keywords, a video by ‘ANI News’ was found in the search results. The video had the following title: “2 killed in police brutality during peaceful protest in PoK’s Muzaffarabad” and similar visuals can be seen in the video. So, the police seen in the video are not UP Police.
To sum it up, the video shows Pakistan Police beating protestors during a rally in Muzaffarabad (PoK).
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created: January 3, 2020


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The viral claim that the Muslim population in Haldwani has increased from less than 1000 to more than one lakh in 20 years is false. - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
February 15, 2024
On 8 February 2024, violence erupted in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, as authorities initiated the demolition of a mosque and madrasa in the Banbhoolpura area during an anti-encroachment drive. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami issued shoot-on-sight orders in response to reports of vandalism, stone-pelting, and the surrounding of a police station by a mob. Amidst this, a post is widely circulating on social media platforms, claiming that there were less than 1000 Muslims in Haldwani 20 years ago, and today there are more than one lakh Muslims. In this article, let’s fact-check the claim made in the post.
Claim: 20 years ago, there were fewer than 1000 Muslims in Haldwani, and today, the Muslim population in Haldwani has exceeded one lakh.
Fact: The Viral claim that the Muslim population in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, was less than 1000 twenty years ago and has now increased to more than one lakh is incorrect. According to the official 2001 and 2011 Census data, the population of Muslims in Haldwani was 67,559 and 80,436 respectively in 2011 and 2001. Since the 2021 census has not been conducted yet, recent population figures are not available. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.
To verify the viral claim, we examined Census data provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs. To gather information from about 20 years ago, we referred to the 2001 census data as it is the closest census available to 2004. According to the 2001 Census, Haldwani had a total population of 497,869 individuals. Among this total population, 80,436 people belonged to the Muslim community, with 43,133 being males and 37,303 being females. In terms of percentage, the Muslim population in 2001 was approximately 16% of Haldwani’s total population.
Following this, we examined the figures for 2011. According to the 2011 Census data, the total population of Haldwani was 364,129 (from 497,869 in 2001). Meanwhile, the Muslim population within the total population was 67,559 (35,541 for men and 32,018 for women). In terms of percentage, this amounted to approximately 18%. As per the 2011 Census, Hindus (287,015) constituted the largest segment of the population, followed by Muslims (67,559), Sikhs (6,514), and Christians (2,423). From this information, it is evident that in the year 2001, the Muslim population in Haldwani was 80,436 out of a total of 497,869. In the year 2011, the Muslim population was 67,559 out of a total population of 364,129.
The viral claim also suggests that there are more than 1 lakh people in the Muslim community in Haldwani today. However, there is no official record or evidence to support this claim due to the postponement of the 2021 Census following the COVID-19 pandemic. According to news reports , Census 2021 has been postponed to 2024-25. As of now, the recent official demographic figures of Haldwani are unknown.
According to a 2017 response in the Rajya Sabha by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, around 40,000 Rohingya immigrants reside in India, with significant settlements in Jammu & Kashmir, Telangana, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Rajasthan.
To sum it up, the viral claim stating that the Muslim population in Haldwani has increased from less than 1000 to more than one lakh in 20 years is false.

created: February 15, 2024


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The Viral image of beef flavour Maggi noodles is not from India - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
March 13, 2020
A message that Nestle company has started selling Maggi with ‘beef’ flavour is going viral in India. Let’s check the veracity of the message.
Nestle company is selling Maggi with ‘beef’ flavor in India.
Fact: In the Nestle India website, the range of products it sells in the country has no listing of Maggi with ‘beef’ flavor among them. It was found that ‘Beef Flavour’ Maggi (shown in the picture) is sold in countries like Australia and New Zealand. So, the claim going viral in India is MISLEADING.
When we visited the Nestle India website to know the range of products it sells in India, Maggi with ‘beef’ flavour wasn’t listed. In the non-vegetarian section, only Maggi products with ‘chicken’ flavour was featured in that listing.
And, when a Twitter user has asked Nestle if the company is selling Maggi with ‘beef’ flavor in India, Nestle India Care has clarified that ‘MAGGI noodles manufactured and sold by it in the country does not contain beef or any form of beef flavour.’
Hi, we would like to inform you that MAGGI noodles manufactured and sold by Nestlé India does not contain beef or any form of beef flavor.
During the search process, it was found that the Nestle company sells beef-flavoured Maggi products (shown in the picture) in Australia and New Zealand. Maggi noodles similar to the image shared in the post is found to be sold in New Zealand.
To sum it up, the viral image of beef flavour Maggi noodles is not from India. Nestle does not sell beef flavour Maggi noodles in India.
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The viral letter of resignation in the name of Congress leader Digvijaya Singh is fake - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
October 18, 2023
A post with an official letter addressing the president of the Congress party, Mallikarjun Kharge is being shared claiming it to be the resignation letter of Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh stating that ‘In Madhya Pradesh, instead of being a worker-centric party, the party has now become specifically leader-centric. Because of this, I am finding myself uncomfortable.’ Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
Claim: The image shows the resignation letter of senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh from the Congress party.
Fact: Digvijaya Singh firmly denied the allegation of his resignation in his tweet. He also shared the complaint letter to the Deputy Commissioner of Police at the Bhopal Cyber Cell alleging that BJP spokesperson Hitesh Vajpayee had disseminating the forged letter. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.
Investigating the viral letter based on relevant keywords, we did not find any mainstream media reports about this. However, we found a tweet from Digvijaya Singh, posted on 15 October 2023, which includes the viral letter as an attachment. In this tweet, he firmly denied the allegation of his resignation by stating, “The BJP is highly skilled in spreading falsehoods. I became a member of the Congress in 1971. I joined the Congress not for any position but because I was drawn to its ideology, and I intend to remain a member until the end of my days. I am going to take legal action against this fake letter.”
He also shared the complaint letter authored by the Madhya Pradesh Congress committee addressed to the Deputy Commissioner of Police at Bhopal Cyber Cell. Through this tweet, Digvijay Singh called on the police to take appropriate measures. In the letter, the Congress party accused BJP spokesperson Hitesh Vajpayee, alleging that the letter was disseminated by him on social media. Many news reports were published addressing this issue (here and here).
A letter was also sent to the CEO of the Election Commission of India with a request to take appropriate action against the accused.
To sum up, the viral letter of resignation in the name of Congress leader Digvijaya Singh is fake.


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The viral screenshot claiming that the Dainik Bhaskar survey predicts I.N.D.I.A bloc lead in 10 states is fake - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
April 15, 2024
Several posts (here, here, & here), accompanied by a screenshot purportedly showing the front page of the Hindi newspaper Dainik Bhaskar’s Bhopal edition, are being widely shared across social media platforms. The viral screenshot claims that a joint survey by Dainik Bhaskar and Nielsen has predicted that the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A) will lead in ten states. In this article, let’s fact-check the claim made in these posts.
Claim: The Hindi newspaper Dainik Bhaskar published a report predicting the lead of the I.N.D.I.A bloc in 10 states in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Fact: The viral screenshot is fake. Dainik Bhaskar did not publish any such news report in its Bhopal edition on 13 April 2024, or in any other editions. On 13 April 2024, Dainik Bhaskar denounced the viral post as fake in a tweet on X(Twitter). Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.
We noticed that the purported screenshot of the Dainik Bhaskar paper displayed the Bhopal edition published on 13 April 2024. Taking a cue from this, we searched for the e-paper from that date on the Dainik Bhaskar website. However, in the actual e-paper (archived link) of the Bhopal edition, no election survey report was published on 13 April 2024. Instead, the front page featured a BJP advertisement and a report about Bhopal’s rainfall. We also examined the front pages of all other editions of Dainik Bhaskar, but the viral survey report predicting the I.N.D.I.A bloc’s lead was nowhere to be found. This information clearly indicates that the viral screenshot is digitally created. Below is a comparison between the viral newspaper screenshot and the original newspaper edition.
We have also found a post on X (formerly Twitter) by Dainik Bhaskar dated 13 April 2024, denouncing the survey as fake. The post reads, “this survey is fake, which has been prepared by some anti-social elements… Dainik Bhaskar does not claim any such content… Strict action should be taken against such people.”  They have also published a fact-checking article on their website labelling the viral screenshot as fake.
#FakeNews : यह सर्वे फेक है, जिसे कुछ असामाजिक तत्वों ने तैयार किया है… दैनिक भास्कर ऐसे किसी भी कंटेंट का दावा नहीं करता है… ऐसे लोगों पर सख्त कार्रवाई होनी चाहिए#DainikBhaskar #ElectionCommission @ECISVEEP pic.twitter.com/ahKD5dFWQC
Further, Dainik Bhaskar did not release any pre-poll survey report in collaboration with Nielsen. However, the paper published its first survey results on 14 April 2024 to gauge ‘the mood of the voters’. The survey, titled ‘Mera Vote Meri Marzi’, was conducted in 308 Lok Sabha seats across 12 states over a period of seven days and garnered responses from over eight lakh respondents. It concluded that 48% of voters support the re-election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while 37% express dissatisfaction with rising unemployment. Contrary to the claims made in the viral screenshot, this survey does not predict any lead for the INDIA bloc in 10 states.
To sum it up, the viral screenshot claiming that the Dainik Bhaskar survey predicts I.N.D.I.A bloc lead in 10 states is fake.


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The viral video alleging that AAP leader Atishi apologized for chanting the "Jai Shri Ram" slogan is False - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
April 16, 2024
A video of Delhi Education Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi’s speech during the school inauguration is being shared on social media (here, here, and here) claiming that she uttered “Jai Shri Ram” during a school inauguration in Delhi and later apologized as some Muslim men objected to it, Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
Claim: Delhi Education Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi raised the “Jai Shri Ram” slogan during a school inauguration in Delhi and later apologized as some Muslim men objected to it.
Fact:  The school was inaugurated in Shri Ram Colony, which is located near Khajuri Khas Chowk. Atishi didn’t mention Shri Ram Colony at first. When locals expressed their unhappiness about it, she corrected herself and apologized. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.
On performing a relevant keyword search regarding the claim, we found a press release issued by Aam Admi Party on 9 March 2024. It indicated that the Kejriwal government inaugurated two government schools in the Shriram Colony of Northeast Delhi. During this, Education Minister Atishi said that this school of Shri Ram Colony is one of the best schools in Delhi.
Taking this clue we further searched and found a full video of the school inauguration program published by the directorate of education, GNCT of Delhi on YouTube. From the video, we found that the school was inaugurated in Shri Ram Colony, which is located near Khajuri Khas Chowk, Delhi. On investigating the full video, we found that at 32:14 timestamp Atishi started her speech with slogans of Bharat Mata Ki Jai, Vande Mataram, and Inquilab Zindabad. Later at 40:30 timestamp, it’s evident that Atishi was discussing the inauguration of the Khajuri Khas school.
During the speech, some attendees raised objections when Atishi mentioned Khajuri Khas school. When Atishi requested them to sit, Municipal councillor Mohammad Amil Malik approached Atishi from behind the stage and suggested, “This is the school of Shri Ram Colony, say Shri Ram Colony.” In response, Atishi apologized to the residents of Shriram Colony, stating, “I would like to apologize to the residents of Shriram Colony; the school of Shriram Colony is where the children of Shriram Colony, Khajuri Khas, Karawal Nagar, and Sonia Vihar also study.” There is no evidence of her chanting “Jai Shri Ram” in the entire video.
To sum up, the viral video alleging that AAP leader Atishi apologized for chanting the “Jai Shri Ram” slogan is False.