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 showing a DMK MLA thrashing an on-duty police officer in Tamil Nadu.
Fact
2018 video of a BJP councillor from Meerut assaulting a police officer following an altercation.
A video of a man thrashing a uniformed police officer, and hurling abuses is being widely shared on social media platforms. Those sharing the footage allege that it shows a DMK leader assaulting an on-duty police officer, and highlights the “hopeless situation of law and order and police in the state of Tamil Nadu.” Newschecker found that the video is old, and has been shared with a false narrative.
Multiple Facebook and X users shared the video claiming, “Tamil Nadu state DMK MLA Mansoor Mohammed beat up a police inspector on duty. This is the hopeless situation of law and order and police in the state of Tamil Nadu. Then what about the common man.”
Such posts can be seen here, here, here, here, here and here.
The 29-second-long-clip has also found its way to YouTube.
Fact Check/Verification
We scanned through the list of members on the official website of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, but did not spot any MLA named Mansoor Mohammed.
Following this, we conducted a Google lens search on the keyframes of the viral video which led us to a report by Deccan Chronicle, dated October 20, 2018. Displaying a screengrab from the viral footage, the report stated, “A sub-inspector, accompanying a female lawyer friend to a restaurant, was thrashed by its owner Munish Kumar, who is also a BJP councillor from Meerut’s ward no. 40 has, following altercation over delay in serving food.”
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Following this, we looked up keywords “Meerut, BJP councillor, police and thrashed” on Google yielded multiple reports from 2018 detaining the incident. One such report by India Today, dated October 20, 2018, informed that the incident took place in Kankarkheda area of Meerut district.
Adding, “The police officer had come to the BJP leader’s restaurant with a woman lawyer. The woman was reportedly involved in an altercation with a waiter for not serving her meal on time. As the altercation heated up, the BJP leader and the cop intervened. But the matter only worsened.”
The Financial Times reported that Kumar was arrested and a case was registered against him under section 395 (punishment for dacoity) and 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of Indian Penal Code. The police officer was was attached to the police lines as he skipped duty to go out for dinner
Other reports on the incident can be seen here, here and here.
Conclusion
We could thus conclude that a 2018 video showing a BJP councillor thrashing a police officer in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut has been shared with a fabricated narrative.
Result: False
Sources
Report By Deccan Chronicle, Dated October 20, 2018
Report By India Today, Dated October 20, 2018
Report By Financial Times, Dated October 20, 2018
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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.
