Hyderabad: A video is circulating on social media, claiming that Gujarat police punished an offender by caning him for allegedly causing a ruckus and pelting stones during Holi. The video shows police officers reportedly in civilian clothing beating the man while someone films the incident.
An X user shared the video with the caption, “The incident is from Gujarat. Some offenders created chaos and pelted stones during Holi. Gujarat police responded in the same manner. This is the only way to deal with stone pelters.” (Archive)
Similar claims can be found here and here.
Fact check
NewsMeter found that the claim is misleading, as the incident is unrelated to Holi.
A reverse image search led us to a report by Mint, published on 15 March, featuring a screengrab from the viral video. The report is titled, ‘Viral video: Gujarat police beat up goons in Ahmedabad, leaving netizens ‘satisfied’.’
According to the report, on 13 March, a day before Holi, a mob of 20 men attacked an SUV owner and vandalised nearby vehicles using swords and sticks. Following the incident, at least 14 people have been arrested so far.
The report quoted Deputy Commissioner of Police Baldev Desai, who told PTI, “A preliminary probe has found that the violence resulted from a rivalry between two individuals over opening a food stall near a commercial complex in Vastral. One Pankaj Bhavsar held a grudge against his rival Sangram Sikarwar for not allowing him to set up a food stall in the area.”
Building on this lead, we conducted a keyword search and found a report by Ahmedabad Mirror, published on 16 March. The report stated that the rampage was fuelled by personal enmity.
The incident was triggered by an argument between Pankaj Bhavsar and Sangram Sikarwar over placing a handcart in Ahmedabad’s Ramol area.
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Bhavsar, along with 14 others, including a minor, arrived in Vastral armed with swords, iron pipes and lathis. Upon learning about their arrival, Sikarwar fled the area. Bhavsar and his gang then vandalised vehicles parked outside the shop where Sikarwar used to sit. Later, they stormed the streets, attacking commuters and locals with their weapons.
According to a 15 March report by Gujarat Samachar, the chaos in Vastral, which targeted innocent civilians and involved vandalising vehicles with weapons, stemmed from an ongoing dispute between Pankaj Bhavsar and Sangram.
In response, police arrested 14 individuals, including a minor, for their involvement in the violence. The accused include Aldeep Maurya, Shyam Kamli, Vikas alias Bittu Parihar, Ashil Makwana, Rohit alias Durlabh Sonawane, Nikhil Chauhan, Mayur Marathi, Pradeep alias Monu Tiwari, Rajveer Singh Bihola, Alkesh Yadav, Ayush Rajput, Dinesh Rajput and Deepak Kushwaha.
To reinforce consequences, police paraded the accused publicly, made them apologise, and subjected them to lathi punishment. Additionally, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) demolished the illegally constructed homes of seven accused, including Shyam Kamli, Ashil Makwana, Rohit alias Durlabh Sonawane, Rajveer Singh Bihola, Alkesh Yadav and Ayush Rajput.
Finally, a keyword search in Gujarati on YouTube led us to video reports by News18 Gujarati, published on 16 March. The footage shows police administering lathi punishment to several individuals, including the one seen in the viral video and demolishing houses.
There is no mention of the accused causing any issues specifically during the Holi celebrations.
According to the channel, police arrested 14 individuals for intimidation and violence using sticks and rods in Ahmedabad’s Vastral area and publicly punished them to enforce the rule of law.
Therefore, we conclude that the claim of Gujarat police punishing a miscreant in the viral video by caning him for causing a ruckus and pelting stones during Holi is misleading.
This story was originally published by NewsMeter as part of the Shakti Collective. Apart from the headline, excerpt and introduction, this story has not been edited by ThePrint staff.