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 shows a massive crowd at the funeral procession of Mukhtar Ansari, jailed gangster-turned-politician who died of cardiac arrest on Thursday.
Archived versions of such posts can be seen here, here, here, here, and here.
Also Read: Mukhtar Ansari Death – 2022 Video Of Abbas Ansari Threatening Govt Officials Goes Viral
Fact
A Google lens search on the keyframes of the viral clip led us to a YouTube video by Ayan Khan 99, dated March 20, 2024. It carried a slightly longer version of the viral footage, confirming that the video predates Ansari’s funeral which was held on March 30, 2024.
We found that the video claiming to show the funeral procession of Mukhtar Ansari was shared on YouTube by Jahid Ali on March 9, 2024 as well.
The video was also posted on YouTube by Gulam mustafa7668 on 28 March 2024, carrying a watermark of an Instagram account of @isaqlaini690.
Taking a clue, we skimmed through the Instagram profile of user @isaqlaini690, identifying as the “official Account Of Aastana e Aaliyah Saqlainiya Sharafatiya Mujaddidiya Qadriya, Bareilly.”
We found that the viral video was posted on it’s account on January 19, 2024, with the caption, “Hazrat Peero Murshid Shah Saqlain Miyan Huzoor R.A #Janaza_Shareef #22october2023 #Bareilly_Shareef #islamicpost #Muslims #sufi#india #reelsinstagram #r #janaza #viralreels #bareilly #islamiyagroud #instagram #share #muslims #wisal #miyanHuzoor “
We found that a snippet from the viral video was also shared on their Instagram account on November 3, 2023 with the caption, “Murshidi Miya Huzoor ka Aakhri Safar #Janaza #shareef #namaze_Janaza #reels #allahhu #islamicpost #muslims #viral #viralvideo #bareilly #2023 #22october #viralreels #up #bareilly_shareef.”
Also Read: Kejriwal Hearing- Fake Courtroom Exchange Between Delhi CM And ASG Goes Viral
A keyword search “Shah Saqlain Miyan,” and “Funeral” on Google led us to a report by Hindustan, dated October 20, 2023. It stated, “Peero Murshid Shah Saqlain Mian, a great religious leader among Sunni Muslims, passed away on Friday evening.”
AmarUjala also reported on the death of the religious leader in Bareilly.
We were also able to find the live stream of the funeral procession of Shah Saqlain Miyan, dated October 22, 2023.
The hashtags used in the Instagram post description indicated that the video was shot in Bareilly’s Islamia ground. Notably, Ansari’s funeral was held in Ghazipur, and not Bareilly.
We looked up Islamia ground, Bareilly on Google Street View and found multiple Google images featuring the same colossal green-coloured archway as seen in the initial few frames of the viral video being circulated to show the funeral procession of Mukhtar Ansari.
Around 26 seconds into the viral video, a structure can be seen in the middle of the field. We spotted a similar construction in the middle of Islamia ground on Google Street View.
Furthermore, we saw a hoarding saying “Gandhi Medicos” around 36 seconds into the viral clip. We searched for “Gandhi Medicos, Bareilly” on Google Street View, and were able to spot the exact location.
We could thus conclude that the viral footage predates the funeral procession of Mukhtar Ansari. Additionally, it shows visuals from Bareilly, and not Ghazipur where Ansari’s funeral took place.
Also Read: IPL 2024- Old Video Of Disappointed RCB Fans Goes Viral After Team Loses To KKR
Result: False
Sources
YouTube video by Ayan Khan 99, Dated March 20, 2024
YouTube by Gulam mustafa7668, Dated 28 March 2024
Instagram Post By @isaqlaini690, Dated January 19, 2024
Google Street View
Google Images
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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.
