Authors
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.
From a fake social media post that claimed that Manipuri women killed 2 Indian Army personnel for alleged molestation to unrelated videos being shared to malign Maldives as unsafe for tourists, this past week saw a host of misinformation online. Here’s a look at the top five instances of misinformation called out by Newschecker this past week.
Screenshot of Maldivian President Muizzu’s Tweet Apologizing To Indians Is Digitally Altered
Amid the widespread controversy triggered online after bitter remarks against PM Modi by certain Maldivian ministers, several social media users posted a screenshot claiming that Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu had apologized to Indians for the remarks. But Newschecker found the screenshot of the tweet is digitally altered.
Virender Sehwag Shares Photos Of Thailand And French Polynesia As Indian Islands
Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag took to Twitter on January 7, 2024, to protest against Maldives minister’s scathing remarks to the Prime Minister of India. Sharing some pictures of beautiful beaches and islands, he urged Indians to visit the unexplored and beautiful islands, and beaches in the country. But, Newschecker found 2 out of four images shared by the Ex-Indian batter was from Thailand and French Polynesia, but not from India.
Viral Image Shows Sex Doll Found On Thailand Beach, Not Tourist Murdered In Maldives
Several social media users shared an image claiming that a girl who went on a trip to the Maldives was found dead naked near the seashore. Users also claimed that she was gang-raped and tortured before being killed. Newschecker found the claims to be false and that that the viral image shows a sex doll found in Chonburi, eastern Thailand, on August 18, 2022.
Did Manipuri Women Beat Two Indian Army Personnel To Death For Attempting To Molest Them? Here’s What We Found
Amidst the ongoing violence in Manipur, on January 10, 2024, various social media users claimed that two Indian Army personnel were beaten to death while attempting to molest a group of women working in a nearby field in Manipur. Newschecker found that the video shows women of the Meira Paibi opposing the deployment of Indian Army in their locality over constant monitoring and screening. The Indian Army personnel were not beaten to death by women in Manipur.
Video Of Woman Being Thrashed, Dragged Out Of Bengaluru Temple Shared With Casteist Claim
Several social media users shared a video this week, claiming that a Brahmin priest assaulted Dalit woman for entering a temple in Bengaluru and dragged her out of the premises by the hair. But Newschecker found that neither was the woman is dalit, nor was the case an incident of caste-based violence.
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Authors
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.
