Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
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 of RSS activists leading relief efforts following the devastating landslides on July 30 that have killed over 200 in Kerala’s Wayanad.
The archived version of the tweet can be seen here.
Fact
Newschecker noticed that the woman seen in the beginning of the 41-second video was Malayalam actor Nikhila Vimal.
Taking a cue from this, we ran a keyword search for “Nikhila Vimal Wayanad landslides”, which led us to multiple news reports, seen here, here and here, stating that the actor had joined the volunteers involved in the distress relief operations for the victims of the Wayanad landslide.
“Amid ongoing relief work for the victims of the Wayanad landslide, actor Nikhila Vimal has taken a proactive role by participating in the efforts. She joined volunteers at the Taliparamba Collection Centre here, established by the DYFI, to pack and dispatch essential goods to the affected areas…,” read a Mathrubhumi English report, dated July 31, 2024. None of the reports state that it was an RSS camp.
A further search led us to the original video posted by the official Instagram handle of the youth wing of the CPI(M), DYFI, on July 31, 2024. “Film star Nikhila Vimal DYFI is active at the Taliparamba Collection Centre, which is collecting necessary items to send to Wayanad,” read the post, translated from Malayalam, confirming that the video was not of RSS’ relief work.
Result: False
Also Read: Video Claiming To Show Location Where Hamas Leader Was Killed Actually From Syria
Sources
OnManorama report, July 31, 2024
Instagram video, DYFI Kerala, July 31, 2024
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Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
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.
