Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
A video of Railway workers “interrogating” a boy for placing stones on a railway track is being touted as a “big time conspiracy,” and “war against the govt.” Those sharing the video have warned that “anything can happen before” the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2024”
Such posts can be seen here , here and here
Fact
We began our investigation by establishing what exactly is happening in the video. It shows two Railway workers holding a boy’s hand while others film the incident. A person behind the camera can be heard asking the boy “who put it (stone) there (on the railway track),” to which he replies that he had nothing to do with it. When asked again, the child claims that it was done by someone called “Pappu”. On being asked where he is from, the boy says “Devanagar.”
The man holding the boy’s hand then enquires about his father, and the boy says that he (his father) is a conductor. The man further asks for his father’s mobile number.
On being asked how many times he has placed stones on Railway tracks, the boy says that it’s his first time. The camera then follows a trail of stones placed on the Railway tracks.
Notably, the boy is heard mentioning that he is from “Devanagar.” Additionally, the Kannada accent heard in the video revealed that it is from the Kalyan Karnataka area, which includes Kalaburagi.
Following this, we looked up “Devanagar, “Kalaburagi,” and “Karnataka ” on Google, and could find a place called “Devanagar ” near the Kalaburagi railway station, suggesting that the incident likely took place in that area.
We, however, did not find any news reports on the incident.
Newschecker reached out to Manoj Kumar Guddi, senior correspondent of Prajavani Daily Kalaburagi, who told us that the video shows an incident from 2018. Adding, “No complaint was registered in this matter.”
Also Read: Old Video From Hyderabad Shared To Show CCTV Footage Of Train Accident In Odisha
We further reached out to M. Pasha, Police Sub Inspector of Wadi Railway Station in Kalaburagi who corroborated that the video is from a 2018 incident, and that no case was registered in this regard. He said, “Children place stones on railway tracks playfully. It was nothing serious.” Pasha said that the old video has gained traction since the Odisha train accident, and even senior Railway Police officials sought information about the incident.
Result: Missing Context
Sources
Conversation With Manoj Kumar Guddi, Senior Correspondent, Prajavani Daily Kalaburagi
Conversation With M. Pasha, Police Sub Inspector of Wadi Railway Station
Self Analysis
If you would like us to fact-check a claim, give feedback, or lodge a complaint, WhatsApp us at 9999499044 or email us at checkthis@newschecker.in. You can also visit the Contact Us page and fill out the form.
Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
