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
Main accused in the Odisha train mishap, Station Master Sharif, who was hiding in a West Bengal Madrasa has been arrested. A video showing his “interrogation” by the investigating authorities.
Fact
The video has been available online since at least October 2021, and has been falsely shared to promote the made-up narrative of an absconding station master.
A disturbing video of a person brutally assaulting a naked man lying on the floor with his hands cuffed behind him, is being widely shared online, with multiple social media users linking it to the June 2 Odisha triple-train accident. Those sharing the video alleged that the “main accused” of the Balasore train mishap, Station Master Sharif, who was allegedly hiding in a West Bengal Madrasa, has been arrested by the CBI. Newschecker found that the footage predates the Odisha train accident, and has been used to further build on the false narrative of the absconding station master of Bahanaga Bazar Railway Station, Sharif.
Note: The video contains disturbing visuals and has not been embedded in this article
Such posts can be seen here, here and here.
Newschecker received the video on our WhatsApp tipline (+91-999949904) multiple times requesting to be fact checked.
Also Read: Cropped Image Of ISKCON Temple Near Odisha Train Accident Site Viral With False Claim
Fact Check/Verification
On carefully analysing the viral footage, we noticed that the audio was in a foreign language. Additionally the man was being assaulted with what appears to be a wooden bat. Taking a clue, we looked up keywords “naked man,” “handcuffed,” “thrashed” and “wooden bat” on Google which yielded a post by website KrudPlug.net, dated November 3, 2022.
It carried a slightly longer and clearer version of the viral video with the caption, “Man stripped naked and handcuffed gets beaten with a wooden plank by Cartel.” The location was identified as Mexico.
Following this, we looked up the keyframes of the clearer version of the viral video on Google lens led us to a Reddit post, dated June 9, 2022. It carried the viral clip, with the caption, “…Cartel spanks a thief.”
We found another Reddit post, dated October 30, 2021, carrying the same video with the caption, “Thief beaten with paddle for stealing from cartel…”
A few other websites, such as this and this, also shared the video asserting it to be from Mexico. However, we were not independently able to verify the same.
Furthermore, the false narrative around “absconding Station Master Sharif” has already been debunked by Newschecker. The same can be seen here.
Earlier this week, the South Eastern Railway CPRO had again clarified that no staff of the Bahanaga Bazar Railway Station staff was absconding or missing, and that everyone was cooperating in the investigation into the Odisha triple-train accident.
Also Read: Conspiracy Ahead Of 2024 Polls? No, Viral Video Of Boy Placing Stones On Train Track Is Old
Conclusion
We could thus conclude that over an year old video has been shared to further carry forward the false narrative of “absconding” Station Master Sharif.
Result: False
Sources
Post By KrudPlug.net, Dated November 3, 2022
Reddit Post, Dated June 9, 2022
Reddit Post, Dated October 30, 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.
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.
