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.
Claim
TMC leader being chased away by voters in Bengal’s Arambagh.
Fact
Video of an incident from the 2021 West Bengal Election has been shared out of context.
A video showing a woman being chased away in an open field by a mob is being widely shared on social media platforms. Those sharing the video claim that the TMC Lok Sabha candidate from Bishnupur, Sujata Mondal along with other party workers were attacked and driven away by voters in Arambagh. Newschecker found that the video is old, and has been shared out of context.
Multiple X and Facebook users shared the nearly-two-minute-long-footage claiming, “Sujata Khan, TMC candidate from Bishnupur was threatening voters of Arambagh to vote for TMC or they will face consequences. Voters of Arambagh beat up Sujata Khan and other party workers and chased them away from there. Hindus of Bengal are fighting!!”
Such posts can be seen here, here, here, here, here and here.
Also Read: Old Visuals From ‘No Vote To BJP’ Campaign From 2021 Shared As Recent
Fact Check/Verification
We noticed the watermark of “Anandabazar Patrika” on the top right corner in the viral video.
Taking a clue, we looked up keywords “Sujata Khan,” and “Arambagh” on the official YouTube channel of Anandabazar Patrika, and found a video report dated April 6, 2021. Around 2:20 minutes into the report, we spotted the viral video of the TMC leader being chased away by people.
Khan had visited the Mohallapara area of Arandi after receiving complaints from a polling booth. However, she had alleged that the BJP workers and supporters attacked her on the spot, and she chased her away. “The BJP denied the allegations of the Trinamool candidate and instead claimed that it was Sujata’s companions who beat and tortured them,” stated Anandabazar Patrika report.
A keyword search for “Sujata Mondal, Arambagh and polling booth” on Google yielded multiple reports from April 2021 detailing the incident. One such report by Times Of India, dated April 6, 2021, stated “TMC candidate Sujata Mondal was allegedly attacked in West Bengal’s Arambagh constituency. The TMC said that the party will move the Election Commission. Mondal claimed that ‘BJP workers targeted her’. On the other hand, the BJP activists blamed TMC for the same. Security forces moved there and they vacated the village.”
Another report by NDTV, dated April 6, 2021, stated the TMC leader had accused the opposition BJP of creating chaos and threatening Trinamool supporters in Arambagh amid the voting. The BJP has denied the allegation.
“At booth no 45 in Batanal, despite pressing the symbol of TMC, the vote is going for the BJP. I believe that I will get the blessings of the people. In Arandi, our workers have been beaten up. They (BJP) are thinking that by creating violence, they will get the Arambagh seat. They are mistaking. I am the kind of person who does not fear death,” Khan was quoted as saying.
The report added, “Villagers in Arandi, however, claimed that the candidate had barged into homes and misbehaved with them. Visuals show her locked in argument with villagers.”
Multiple other outlets reported on the incident. Such reports can be seen here, here and here.
Also Read: Is The Congress Candidate From Thrissur Campaigning With The Pakistan Flag?
Conclusion
We could thus conclude that a 2021 video showing the TMC leader being chased away by people in Arambagh has been misleadingly shared as recent.
Result: Missing Context
Sources
YouTube Video By Anandabazar Patrika, Dated April 6, 2021
Report By Times Of India, Dated April 6, 2021
Report By NDTV, Dated April 6, 2021
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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.
