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
Karnataka Police obstructed a Ganpati Visarjan procession and arrested a statue of Lord Ganesha by “putting it behind bars.”
Fact
The Lord Ganesha idol was placed inside a police van for safekeeping during a protest. It was later immersed by the cops following Hindu rituals.
In September 2024, during the Ganesh Visarjan (immersion) festival, a viral image showing a Lord Ganesha idol inside a police van sparked controversy across social media platforms sharing their strong reactions on their pages. The incident occurred against the backdrop of communal tensions in Nagamangala in Karnataka’s Mandya district and saw many social media users, including prominent politicians, expressing outrage over the ‘arrest’ of the Ganapati idol by the Karnataka police. However, our investigation reveals that the viral images have been shared out of context.
From September 13 onwards, social media users began sharing the images on Twitter, bemoaning the situation of Hindus in Karnataka, insinuating that the arrest was an attack on the Hindu faith.
Such posts can be seen here, here and here.
Newschecker also came across social media posts in Hindi, which claimed that the Karnataka police stopped a group on their way to immerse a Ganpati idol, snatched the idol and “arrested” the idol.
The same images were also shared on other social media platforms such as YouTube and Facebook. Such posts can be seen here, here, here and here.
On September 17, speaking at a rally in Kurukshetra, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also reiterated the same saying, “In Congress-ruled Karnataka, even Lord Ganesha is being put behind bars. (गणपति जी को भी सलाखों के पीछे डाला जा रहा है)” He further said, “Lord Ganesha was locked inside a police compartment (dibba). Today, the entire country is celebrating Ganesh Utsav and the Congress is putting ‘Vighna’ (obstacles) in the worship of the ‘Vighnaharta’ (Lord Ganesha).”
The Haryana unit of the BJP also shared PM Modi’s comments on the Karnataka incident.
News outlets such as Hindustan Times and Mathrubhumi also reported on the Prime Minister’s remarks.
Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde also lashed out at the Congress, alleging that the celebrations were stopped, and “Lord Ganesha’s idol was seized” in Karnataka.
Fact Check/Verification
Protest Attempt and Police Response
A relevant keyword search on Google yielded multiple reports detailing the incident. A Times of India report stated that a group of people arrived at the Town Hall in Bengaluru on September 13, to protest against the communal violence that marred the ‘Ganesh Visarjan’ festivities in Mandya district on September 11. It also states that protesters carried a 1-foot-tall statue of Lord Ganesha.
A Hindi article by The Print reported that 40 protesters were taken into “preventative detention” as they did not have permission to protest outside the Bengaluru town hall. It quotes senior Karnataka police officials stating that “A group was moving forward to protest in front of the Town Hall. Since they didn’t have the permission, we stopped them before reaching the site. However, they insisted on going to the site, so we had to detain them”. This report mentions the term एहतियातन हिरासत which means preventative detention.
A News18 report, dated September 15, 2024, further corroborated that the protesters planned to hold a demonstration near the Town Hall against the attack on the ‘Ganesh Visarjan’ procession in Nagamangala, Mandya. Notably, the permitted place for protests in Bengaluru is Freedom Park, as per the rules. The protesters were then detained by the police leading to chaos and prompting some participants to raise slogans and carry the Ganesh idol on their heads.
Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda told News 18, “…as soon as they found that a Ganesh idol was lying on the ground, one of our officials immediately put it at a safe spot.”
“How could we have left Lord Ganesha idol unattended? Our officer ensured that the idol was transported safely, and since it had to be taken for immersion, the immersion was done with full respect and devotion. The photo of Ganesh inside the van shows how we ensured the sanctity and respect of the idol,” he further added.
DCP: Idol Immersed With Proper Rituals
Sharing photographic evidence on his official X account, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of Bengaluru Central Division, confirmed that the idol was later immersed, observing proper rituals.
The DCP took to X to clarify, “On Sept 13, 2024, Hindu groups protested at Bengaluru’s Town Hall over the Nagamangala Ganesh procession incident, defying a HC order. Demonstrators detained. Ganapati idol was later immersed by authorities with rituals.” He also shared the photographs showing the idol being immersed in the water.
Newschecker has also reached out to the Bengaluru police on the incident. The copy will be updated upon receiving their response.
Also Read: Viral Photo Of Kamala Harris With Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Is Edited
Conclusion
Our investigation has revealed that the viral claim, that the police ‘arrested’ a Ganesha idol meant for visarjan, is false. The idol was retrieved by cops when protesters heading for the town hall in Bengaluru were detained, and it was placed inside a van for safekeeping.
Result: False
Sources
Report By Times of India, Dated September 14, 2024
Report By News18, Dated September 15, 2024
Report By The Print, Dated September 13, 2024
X Post By @DCPCentralBCP, Dated September 15, 2024
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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.
