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.
(This article was originally published in Newschecker Hindi by Shubham Singh)
Following reports of communal clashes in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur over Islamic flags on the Jalori gate circle ahead of Eid last week, a video showing a police official wrapping a blood stained handkerchief around his forehead is being widely shared on social media platforms. Those sharing the video claim that the police officer “faked” his injury by “wrapping red coloured napkin around his head”. Newschecker found the claims to be untrue.
Video is also doing the rounds on Twitter.
You can find links to such tweets here, here and here.
Several Facebook users shared the video claiming that the police man faked his injury.
You can find links to such Facebook posts here, here and here.
Nearly a month after communal violence in Karauli, another Rajasthan city, Jodhpur, witnessed communal clashes over putting up of Islamic flags on the Jalori gate circle ahead of Eid celebrations, last week, prompting heavy police deployment, suspension of mobile internet services and imposition of curfew in 10 police station areas of the city.
Also Read: No, Tricolour Was Not Replaced By Islamic Flag In Jodhpur
Fact Check/Verification
To verify whether the Jodhpur police officer faked his injury of not, Newschecker conducted Google reverse image search by using key frames of the viral video along with keywords such as ‘Police injured’, ‘Jodhpur police injured,’ and found a report by Dainik Bhaskar on recent violence in Jodhpur on the occasion of Eid, which carried a still from the viral video with a caption in Hindi which roughly translates to, “Police officials and soldiers deployed to stop the miscreants were also injured. A policeman injured in an attack by miscreants. On Monday, four policemen were injured.”
According to a report by ETV Bharat, dated May 6, 2022, ASI Dhannaram suffered head injury in the recent violence at Jalori in Jodhpur. In this context, a case has been filed against unknown people at Sardarpura Police Station in Jodhpur.
Further, we came across a tweet by Jodhpur police calling out misleading information in the matter. According to the tweet, ASI Dhannaram suffered a head injury owing to which his hand and handkerchief were stained with blood. Following the incident, ASI was given medical treatment and an FIR was filed in Sardarpura police station.”
Newschecker Hindi team contacted ASI Dhannaram who shared the details of the incident with us. ASI said, “ This incident took place on May 3 when I was posted at Jalori gate.A clash broke out between two communal groups over putting up of a flag, during which, I was hit by a stone and started to bleed. My left eye and spectacles were filled with blood. One of my co-workers offered me his handkerchief. I wiped off my blood with it and then tied it around my head while continuing to discharge my duty.”
He also told us that some social media users were propagating a false narrative against him. The ASI added that he was given medical treatment at a hospital and an FIR has also been lodged.
ASI Dhannaram shared an image with us, via a local journalist and the Bureau head of JK 24*7 Subhash, in which his head injury can be clearly seen.
Conclusion
The viral claim that a police officer faked his injury during the recent communal clashes in Jodhpur is not true. ASI Dhannaram indeed suffered a head injury during the violence.
Result: False/False Context
Sources
Twitter Account Of Jodhpur Police
Telephonic Conversation with SI Dhannaram
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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.
