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
A woman in Sandeshkhali who was narrating her ordeal was attacked mid-interview.
Fact
2018 video of a BJP worker being attacked, allegedly by TMC worker, while speaking about an earlier assault.
West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali has been on a boil since early February with a massive protest spearheaded by locals against the alleged sexual harassment and land grabbing by the TMC leaders. The unrest has led to a war-of-words and blame game between the BJP and the TMC. While the saffron party accused Mamata Banerjee for being a mute spectator to the atrocities against women, the Bengal Chief Minister claimed that the BJP is instigating riots in Sandeshkhali.
In this backdrop, a video of a man attacking a woman while she is being interviewed by a TV reporter has gained traction on social media platforms. Those sharing the video alleged that it shows the dire situation in Sandeshkhali where women are not able to speak up against the atrocities they suffered. Some even gave a communal twist to the incident.
Such posts can be seen here, here, here and here.
Also Read: Video From Prayer Meet For Sidhu Moose Wala Falsely Linked To Farmers’ March
Fact Check/Verification
A Google lens search on the keyframes of the viral video led us to an X post by Keya Ghosh, Media Co-Incharge, Bengal BJP, dated September 30, 2018. It carried the viral footage with the caption, “This is the same lady Nilima De Sarkar who was “kicked” by TMC leader Arshadujjaman. Look how his accomplice Qutubuddin is thrashing her openly when she is relaying the incident to media !”
The post was also shared by former Zee News anchor Sudhir Chaudhary stating, “Is this democracy? Where is the “democracy in danger” gang now? Freedom of expression is only meant for the privileged few? This is what happened when @ZeeNews tried to speak to her.”
Taking a clue, we looked up “Nilima De Sarkar,” (in Bengali), BJP and TMC” on Google which yielded a report by Zee 24 Ghanta, dated October 1, 2018. Displaying the screengrab from the viral video, the report stated that BJP’s Nilima De Sarkar was allegedly kicked by a TMC leader Arsaduzzaman during a protest by the saffron party workers.
Adding, that the woman was again assaulted allegedly by Arsaduzzaman’s follower while she was narrating her ordeal to a news reporter. The same was caught on camera.
OneIndia Bengali report, dated October 1, 2018, on the alleged attack by TMC leader on Sarkar also featured a still from the viral video. Sarkar was reported to be a BJP worker from Barasat, a city under North 24 Parganas district of Bengal.
The BJP had called a Bengal bandh to protest against the alleged police firing in Islampur on September 26, 2018. Sarkar was allegedly kicked and thrown to the ground twice in the space of 15 minutes.
A Hindustan Times report quoted Sarkar as saying, “I was kicked by Arshaduzzaman, who is a local panchayat leader. Within a few minutes, one of the ruling party workers who were out in the streets to oppose the bandh, hit me on the head with a stick and threw me on the ground.”
She added, “I was attacked for the second time when some TV journalists present at the spot asked me about the assault.”
Multiple news outlets had reported on the incident like this, this and this.
A video report by CNN News18 can be seen below.
Conclusion
We could thus conclude that an old video of an on-camera attack on a BJP worker allegedly by a TMC member in Bengal’s Barasat has been falsely linked to the ongoing Sandeshkhali violence.
Result: False
Sources
Report by Zee 24 Ghanta, dated October 1, 2018
Report By OneIndia Bengali, Dated October 1, 2018
Report By Hindustan Times, Dated October 1, 2018
If you would like us to fact-check a claim, give feedback, or lodge a complaint, WhatsApp us at 9999499044 or email us at checkthis@newschecker.in. You can also visit the Contact Us page and fill out the form.
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.
