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
Video shows a truck filled with EVMs being transported at the BJP’s behest.
Fact
2022 video of EVMs used for training purposes.
A video showing a mob climbing on a truck, and holding up EVM machines has grabbed social media attention amid the Lok Sabha Polls. In the twenty-seven-second-long-footage, a person can be heard alleging an EVM theft by the BJP. He says, “Watch the scam by the BJP… EVMs theft, this is the BJP government..” Multiple social media users shared the video calling out the Election Commision of India over the alleged EVM tampering.
Such posts can be seen here and here.
Fact Check/Verification
We found a video report by Mojo Story, dated March 9, 2022, carrying a shorter version of the viral footage. It stated, “Ahead of counting of votes for the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged EVM theft after videos of trucks carrying EVMs surfaced online. Akhilesh Yadav alleged tampering with electronic voting machines as his party workers staged a protest in Varanasi’s Pahariya Mandi area on Tuesday. Party workers claimed that they had caught a truckload of EVMs.”
Also Read: Viral Post Falsely Claims PM Modi ‘Served Food’ From Empty Bucket For Photo-Op
Notably, multiple videos from the incident had gone viral in March 2022. Newschecker had debunked the same, learning that it was a mistake on the part of the Varanasi administration regarding the movement of EVMs. The machines seen in the video were solely meant for training purposes and were not used for voting in the elections. Our full fact check can be seen here.
Also Read: Old Video From West Bengal Shared To Claim Vote Rigging In Hyderabad’s Bahadurpura
Result: False
Sources
YouTube Video By Mojo Story, Dated March 9, 2022
Fact Check By Newschecker, Dated March 11, 2022
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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.
