Fact Check: Viral video showing women attacking a man with sticks makes a false claim about communal element
A video of a group of women chasing and beating a man with sticks has gone viral on social media. Netizens are sharing the video claiming that "Hindu women thrashed a Muslim man for misbehaving."
A video of a group of women chasing and beating a man with sticks has gone viral on social media. Netizens are sharing the video claiming that "Hindu women thrashed a Muslim man for misbehaving." It is further connected to love jihad and internet users' advise that women must show their “durga avatar” to such Muslim men.
The video is being shared with the claim, “In Kerala Hindu girls attacked a Muslim man for his obnoxious and shameful misbehaviour. The awakening has started in Kerala. This is the right way to stop Love jihad. Our girls must show their DURGA AVTAR to Muslims.”
We also received the claim via WhatsApp for verification.
FACT CHECK:
We performed a reverse image search and found a news article by HW news. The viral video shows an incident that took place in Thrissur district, Kerala in January 2023. Several women attacked a man alleging that he circulated morphed photos of a woman belonging to their community. The man, his wife, son, and their relatives were allegedly beaten up after being dragged out of their car.
Eleven women were arrested by Aloor police following the alleged attack. The women were booked under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and a case was registered against them.
The same was also reported by India Today and ANI News.
According to a local media group, Onmanorama, a man (and his family) who had cut ties with the Emperor Emmanuel Church was attacked by women for allegedly circulating morphed pictures of a woman. In a statement, the man said that about 50 people had assaulted him. The man, his family and the attackers were given medical treatment.
Evidently, it is clear that the claim of Hindu women thrashing a Muslim man for misbehaving is false. The man in the viral video is a Christian, and there was no communal element involved in the case.