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.
Scores of aspirants hit the streets on Thursday in Dehradun seeking a CBI investigation into the incidents of question paper leak, irregularities and scams related to the government recruitment exams in the state. The protest, however, turned violent after clashes broke out between the protesters and police, leading the cops to resort to lathi charge. Following this, several social media users shared distressing visuals of a police crackdown, linking it to the recent incident in Dehradun.
In this context, a video showing cops thrashing a group of young protesters is doing the rounds on social media platforms, with users claiming it to show Uttarakhand Police’s “brutal” clampdown on protesters in Dehradun. Newschecker found the claim to be untrue.
Note: The video contains disturbing visuals of violence and has not been embedded in this article.
Several social media users shared a 19-second-long-video calling out the Uttarakhand police for their “brutality” on the protesters in Dehradun.
Such posts can be seen here, here, here and here.
Also Read: Viral Images Claiming To Show Police Crackdown On Protests Over RRB NTPC Tests Are From 2018
Fact Check/Verification
A TinEye search on the keyframes of the viral footage led us to a video report by NDTV, dated February 1, 2016, titled ‘Delhi Police Being Used As RSS, BJP’s Private Army: Arvind Kejriwal.’
Featuring a screengrab from the widely circulated clip, the report stated, “Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today hit out at Delhi Police alleging that it was being used as Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and BJP’s “private army” under a political dispensation that is at “war” with students across the country. He condemned police’s purported assault on protesters, including women, demonstrating over the suicide of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula near the RSS head office on January 30.”
Following this, we looked up keywords “Delhi Police” “Students,” “Rohith Vemula” “Protest” & “RSS” on YouTube, which yielded a video report by ABP News, dated February 1, 2016.
Carrying a longer version of the viral clip, the report elaborated on Delhi Police’s crackdown on the students who were leading “a peaceful protest over justice in Rohith Vemula case on 30th Jan as it was his birthday…”
Multiple other outlets had reported on the incident in 2016. Such video reports can be seen here, here and here.
Conclusion
Viral video neither shows a recent incident nor is it from Dehradun. The footage dates back to January 2016, and shows a police crackdown on students demanding justice for Rohith Vemula in Delhi.
Result: False
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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.
