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
Protesting farmers mowed down and “crushed” a police officer under their tractor.
Archived versions of such posts can be seen here, here and here.
Also Read: Viral Video Showing Farmer Braving Water Cannon Is Not Recent
Fact
A keyword search for “farmer protest, police, run over and tractor” on Google yielded a YouTube video by The Tribune, dated August 21, 2023. It carried visuals similar to those seen in the viral footage, stating “Farmer killed in Sangrur protest, police say run over by rashly driven tractor-trolley.”
A PTI report on the incident published in The Tribune stated, “a man died after being run over by a tractor-trolley and at least five policemen were injured as farmers clashed with them in Sangrur district Monday over the “detention” of some farm leaders.”
Also Read: Old Video Of Elderly Woman Slamming Sit-In Protesters Viral Amid Farmers’ March To Delhi
The report featured a X post by @SangrurPolice, dated August 21, 2023, carrying a slightly longer version of the viral clip. The post stated, “Reg unfortunate death of a protester today at Longowal,it is clarified that as per witnesses & videos d deceased was overrun by a rashly driven tractor trolley by protesters,which also severely injured a police inspector who narrowly escaped from getting crushed. Our condolences.”
Further, we noticed that the watermark of “Gagandeep Singh” on the top right side of the video.
We scanned through @Gagan4344’s X account, and found that the viral video was posted on August 21, 2023. It was captioned, “A clash between farmers and the Punjab Police occurred in Sangrur’s village Longowal as they were heading towards Chandigarh to participate in a protest. During the clash, one farmer lost his leg as he came under a tractor trolley tyre & he lost his life during treatment. While one policeman got severely injured. #Sangrur #FarmersProtest #Punjab”
Also Read: AI-Generated Image Viral As Modified Tractors From Farmers’ Protest
Hence, we conclude that a video that is over 5-months-old, showing clashes between farmers and police in Punjab’s Sangrur has been shared out of context. Additionally, no police officer was killed in the incident.
Result: Partly False
Sources
X Post By @SangrurPolice, Dated August 21, 2023
X Post By @Gagan4344, Dated August 21, 2023
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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.
