New Delhi: While Delhi grapples with the escalating violence in its Northeast areas, it is also dealing with a deluge of images and videos, purportedly of the riots, on social media.
The content, which is being shared widely, includes a video of a mob assaulting a bus driver. Among the perpetrators is also a man wearing a skull cap.
“This is the horror being played on the streets of Delhi right now. Did you see the skull cap? They have turned this country into Syria, where Hindus are shit scared,” posted Twitter user Aviral Sharma, who has 16,400 followers.
This is the horror being played on the streets of Delhi right now.
Did you see the skull cap?
They have turned this country into Syria, where Hindus are shit scared.
My relatives living in Maujpur haven't stepped out of their home since 3 days.
— Aviral Sharma (@sharmaAvl) February 25, 2020
The same video was also retweeted by Shilpa Nair, a BJP leader from Kerala with the caption: “1990 repeats History repeats Kashmir repeats.”
https://twitter.com/shilpamdas/status/1232010533349548035?s=20
On Facebook, Jitendra Pratap Singh, who is seen posing with PM Modi in his profile and cover pictures, shared the video with the caption: “Emissaries of peace contributing to the countries development.”
Such videos have been fanning the already polarised debate on the riots that have so far killed 24 people and left more than 100 injured.
According to reports, the violence was being perpetrated by groups of men wielding sticks and rods. Mosques, Muslim cemeteries, shops and homes were also set on fire by mobs.
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Fact check
The video is actually of an incident which took place in Aurangabad last week, on 18 February. The driver of a state transport bus was assaulted by a group of men after he supposedly overtook a car.
The conductor of the bus was also injured as he attempted to intervene.
The incident was reported by Marathi news channel ABP Majha. Times of India also did a follow-up report noting that 18 people had been booked for assault in the case.
(In collaboration with SM Hoaxslayer)
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