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
Man throws ink on EVM at a polling booth in Nagpur.
Fact
2019 video showing an incident from Thane.
A video of a man throwing ink on an EVM inside a polling booth has surfaced on social media platforms following the polling for the first phase of Lok Sabha Elections. In the video, the man can be heard sloganeering against the EVM system for voting as police personnel drag him out of the polling booth. Multiple social media users shared the video claiming to show an incident during the voting in Nagpur constituency, which went to polls on April 19. Newschecker found the claim to be untrue. The video dates back to 2019, and shows an incident from Thane.
Such posts can be seen here, here and here.
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Fact Check/Verification
A keyword search for “Man throws,” “ink” and “EVM” on YouTube led us to a report by ABP News, dated October 21, 2019. Carrying a shorter version of the viral video, the report stated, “In Thane, a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader, Sunil Khambe threw ink on the EVM at a polling booth while voting for Maharashtra Assembly Polls was underway today. He was raising slogans of “EVM murdabad” & “EVM nahi chalega”. He was later taken to a police station by police.”
We found a report by NDTV, dated October 21, 2019, on the incident. It featured a screengrab from the viral video, and stated, “A Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) worker on Monday threw ink on an electronic voting machine (EVM) at a polling booth in Maharashtra’s Thane district. As he was being bundled away by the police, he shouted slogans against EVMs, demanding they be replaced by ballot papers.”
Adding, “ “EVMs should be replaced with ballot papers. This is the demand of the people of the country. EVMs murdabad (down with EVMs),” he shouted, as he was whisked away by security personnel.”
Also Read: Shoe Attack On BJP MLA In Hamirpur? No, 2018 Video Shared With False Claim
The video was also featured in a report by News18 India, dated October 22, 2019, detailing an incident at a polling booth during the Maharashtra Assembly Elections.
A X post by news agency ANI, dated October 21, 2019, featured a shorter version of the viral video, and stated, “Thane: A Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader, Sunil Khambe threw ink on the EVM at a polling booth while voting for #MaharashtraAssemblyPolls was underway today. He was raising slogans of “EVM murdabad” & “EVM nahi chalega”. He was later taken to a police station by police. (sic)”
Also Read: Ranveer Singh Endorses Congress, Mocks PM Narendra Modi? No, Viral Video Is Deepfake
Conclusion
We could thus conclude that an old video from Thane has been falsely shared to show a man throwing ink on EVM at a polling station in Nagpur.
Result: False
Sources
YouTube Video By ABP News, Dated October 21, 2019
Report By NDTV, Dated October 21, 2019
YouTube Video By News18 India, Dated October 22, 2019
X Post By ANI, Dated October 21, 2019
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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.
