A video is being widely circulated on social media with the claim that “a man was burned alive during a Muharram procession in India.” The video is being shared along with communal narratives by several social media users.
On X (formerly Twitter), a verified user Hindutva Vigilant shared the viral video and wrote: “Muslims in India are burning a man alive during a Muharram procession.”
Another verified user, The Alternative Media, shared the same video with the caption: “A video circulating online allegedly shows a man being set on fire during a Muharram procession. Another video shows members of the Muslim community carrying weapons resembling AK-47 rifles.“
Several other users also shared the video with similar claims.
Fact Check
To verify the authenticity of the viral claim, Times Headline extracted keyframes from the video and conducted a reverse image search. During the investigation, the same footage was found in a media report published on YouTube.
According to a report published by Den Kashi on June 27, 2026, the video is from Deoria, Uttar Pradesh. The report states that the incident occurred around 12:15 PM on Friday on Malviya Road under Kotwali police station limits, where Muharram processions were being carried out peacefully.
During the procession, Saddam, son of Shahryar Khan and a resident of Bans Deoria, was performing a stunt as a member of the 5 Star Club Akhara. While performing, he accidentally caught fire and sustained burn injuries. Members of the Akhara immediately rescued him and provided first aid. According to the police, his condition is stable, no one else was injured, and the Muharram procession continued peacefully after the incident.
The investigation also found a report on the Public news app, which confirmed the same sequence of events. According to the report, the 24-year-old performer suffered burn injuries while demonstrating a stunt during the Muharram procession in Deoria. Members of the Akhara quickly rescued him and arranged immediate medical assistance. Police stated that his condition was normal and that no other untoward incident took place during the procession.
Additionally, Dainik Bhaskar reported that Saddam Khan was performing inside an iron drum as part of the Muharram procession when the fire inside the drum unexpectedly spread to his clothes, causing burn injuries. People present at the spot and fellow Akhara members quickly extinguished the flames and rushed him to a private hospital. Doctors confirmed that he was out of danger. City Circle Officer Sanjay Reddy also stated that the Muharram procession was being conducted peacefully and that the incident was purely accidental.
During the investigation, Times Headline also found an official statement posted by the Deoria Police on X regarding the incident. The police said: “A performer from Akhara 5-Star Club sustained burn injuries while performing a stunt on Malviya Road under Kotwali police station limits. He was immediately rescued by fellow Akhara members and given first aid. His condition is normal. There is no law-and-order issue.“
Conclusion
The Times Headline fact-check found that the viral claim is misleading. The video does not show a man being intentionally burned alive during a Muharram procession. In reality, it captures an accidental incident that occurred during a stunt performance at a Muharram procession in Deoria, Uttar Pradesh, where performer Saddam Khan sustained burn injuries after accidentally catching fire. He was rescued immediately, received medical treatment, and was reported to be in stable condition. Therefore, the communal claim being shared along with the viral video is false and misleading.