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While misinformation around the heinous rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata continued to surface on social media, false claims on Bangladesh floods also took over online trends this week. From a fabricated image of a purported X post by PM Modi on Telegram ban to an old video of WHO Chief Dr Tedros being shared as the latest update of Mpox, here are our top fact checks from this week:
Old Video From Visakhapatnam Falsely Linked To Kolkata Rape And Murder Case
A 21 second long video showing hospital staff lining a corridor with folded hands as a corpse is being transported on a stretcher, is being widely circulated online. Multiple users shared the video with hashtags such as “#kolkata,” “#kolkatarapemurdercase” & #doctor, linking it to the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata. Newschecker, however, found the claims to be untrue. Read more here.
Mpox No Longer A Global Health Emergency? Old Video Of WHO Chief Shared Out Of Context
A video purportedly showing WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announcing that Mpox was “no longer a global health emergency” is being widely circulated on social media platforms. Users sharing the video claim that the WHO has “backtraced,” and “reversed” its decision of categorising Mpox as a global public health emergency just days after its announcement. Newschecker, however, found the video to be old. Read more here.
Viral Photo Of Men Offering Prayers Amid Floods In Bangladesh Is Old
As massive floods inundated multiple areas in Bangladesh, a photograph of a group of men offering prayers in chest-deep water has surfaced on social media platforms. Those sharing the image have linked to the current Bangladesh floods. Newschecker, however, found the photograph to be old. Read more here.
Fabricated Screenshot Of PM Narendra Modi’s Post Saying No Ban On Telegram App Goes Viral
Several social media users shared a screengrab from an alleged X post by Prime Minister Narendra Modi assuring citizens that popular messaging app, Telegram, will not be banned in India. Newschecker, however, found that the screengrab was fabricated, and that no such message was posted on the official X account of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Read more here.
Fact Check: Man In Viral Image Celebrating Birthday With Ex- principal of RG Kar Medical College Is Not The Accused in Kolkata Rape-Murder Case
An image is making the rounds on social media that shows a person cutting a cake in front of Dr Sandeep Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College. Posting the image on their X handle, a user claimed that the man sen in the image was Sanjay Roy, the accused in the Kolkata Rape-Murder case, who was celebrating his birthday with Dr Sandeep Ghosh. Newschecker found the claim to be false. Read more here.
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