Fact Check: Video claiming ‘Khalistanis’ destroyed a temple in Delhi during farmers’ protest is Misleading

In 2022, the central government passed three Farmers’ Bills without consulting the targeted community, i.e. farmers. Opposing the Bills, a huge number of farmers took to the streets and launched ‘Dilli Chalo’ march. Ahead of the march, cement blocks and barbed wire was placed on the borders of the national capital to prevent the farmers from entering the city. Police also resorted to lathicharge and opened teargas shells to bring the situation under control.

Amidst this, a video is being widely circulated on social media showing a group of people, belonging to a particular religion, attacking a temple. The social media users shared this video with a caption “So-called farmers "Khalistanis" have attacked a Hindu temple and shops around the temple. Is this really a protest for farmers or the unnecessary rage against Hindus? “

#FarmerProtest2024 #shame #UPPoliceexam #breaking

Fact Check:  The claim is False. The video is not from Delhi and is not linked to the ongoing farmers’ protests.

When we searched further using the keyframes extracted from the viral video, we found similar images taken from a different angle shared by Uday Barad, who claims he is a journalist, on April 30, 2022. Also, he posted a write-up on his wall “Hindu groups call for Patiala bandh after Khalistani supporters attack Kali Temple: FIR against Khalistanis. Patiala is just a glimpse of the lawlessness Punjab will witness in the next five years."

When we searched for Patiala bandh on internet, we found Asian News International (ANI) shared a 56-sec visual on April 29, 2022 on their X account with the following caption: “#WATCH | Punjab: A clash broke out between two groups near Kali Devi Mandir in Patiala today. Police personnel deployed at the spot to maintain law and order situation”.

Also, we found the Chief Minister of Punjab shared a post on his official X account on April 29: “The incident of clashes in Patiala is deeply unfortunate. I spoke with the DGP, peace has been restored in the area. We are closely monitoring the situation and will not let anyone create disturbance in the State. Punjab’s peace and harmony is of utmost importance”.

Hindustan Times also published an article “Trouble began when radical Sikh elements came out in large numbers to oppose a Khalistan Murdabad March organised by the Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray).

The Indian Express published: Patiala clashes: Violence breaks out between two groups over ‘anti-khalistan’ march. 

Hence the video is not from Delhi and also there is no link to the incident with the ongoing farmers’ protest. It was actually captured when two groups clashed in Patiala, Punjab.