A video showing police personnel beating a man with batons is being widely shared across social media platforms. Several users claim that the person in the video is Bhim Army worker Sukhdev Jatav, who was allegedly assaulted by the police after making objectionable remarks about Lord Shri Ram.
What is being claimed?
While sharing the viral video, a user named Arun Yadav Kosli wrote: “Bhim Army worker #Sukhdev_Jatav was abusing our revered Lord Shri Ram. The police personnel then ‘explained’ things to him very lovingly!“
Another user, Rajput Savit Singh, shared the same video with the caption: “Bhim Army worker #Sukhdev made objectionable remarks about Maryada Purushottam Lord Ram. He fell into the hands of Kotwali police and SP Manoj Pandey, and all the policemen together beat him black and blue.“
Several other social media users have also circulated the video with similar claims, alleging that it shows the police beating a Bhim Army worker for insulting Lord Ram.
Fact Check
Times Headline investigated the viral claim and found it to be misleading. The viral video has no connection with the Bhim Army or any of its members.
To verify the footage, key frames from the video were extracted and subjected to a reverse image search. The search led to a post published by News18 Marathi on May 27, 2021. The Marathi caption accompanying the video translates to: “Police beat a BJP worker who entered a COVID hospital and vandalised the ICU.“
Further investigation found that ANI had also reported the same incident. According to the report, the viral video shows police in Jalna, Maharashtra, beating BJP Yuva Secretary Shivraj Narialwale.
ANI quoted Kadim Jalna Police Station Inspector Prashant Mahajan, who stated that after the death of a patient on April 10, 2021, the deceased’s family members and others vandalised the hospital. Police used force to remove those involved and bring the situation under control.
To gather additional information, Times Headline also contacted Nazim Syed, a local journalist from Jalna. After reviewing the viral video, he confirmed that it is an old video showing the police beating a BJP leader during the hospital vandalism incident. He clarified that the video has no connection with the Bhim Army. He further stated that after the footage went viral, departmental action was taken against several police personnel involved in the incident.
Conclusion
The investigation by Times Headline found that the viral claim is misleading. The video being circulated as footage of a Bhim Army worker being beaten for making objectionable remarks about Lord Ram is actually an old video from Jalna, Maharashtra, recorded in 2021. It depicts the police assault on BJP Yuva Secretary Shivraj Narialwale during action taken after vandalism at a hospital. Therefore, linking this video to the Bhim Army or the alleged remarks about Lord Ram is false.