Indian video falsely shared as Awami League torch procession
A video has been circulating on Facebook claiming to show an Awami League torch procession. However, Dismislab’s fact-check found the claim to be false. The video shows a clash among devotees during the Banni festival in a village in Andhra Pradesh, India.
On October 24, a Facebook profile named “Poura Awami League” posted the video. The post read, “Breaking: The game has already begun. If our programs are obstructed, we must respond by standing united on the streets. Awami League protest torch procession wearing burial shrouds. Everyone, please share this widely.”
The video shows a group of people carrying torches and sticks attacking a man. Until the publication of this report, the video had been viewed more than 70,000 times and shared more than 70 times.
The video was also posted by several other Facebook profiles and pages (1, 2, 3).
A reverse image search using several keyframes from the video led to a report published by Indian news outlet The Times of India on October 22. The video accompanying the report, titled “Bloodshed at Devaragattu Banni festival, 1 killed, over 60 injured in traditional stick-fight for temple idols,” matches the footage circulating on Facebook.
Several news outlets have reported on the incident. A report published by Tripura-based news outlet Jagaran Tripura.com said a stick fight is held every year during the Banni festival at the Mala Malleswara Swamy temple. Every year, people from five villages near the temple take part in the festival, divided into two groups. However, this year, the stick fights turned violent and led to clashes among devotees.
In other words, footage of a clash that began during a traditional stick fight among devotees at a festival in Andhra Pradesh, India, is being circulated with the false claim that it shows an Awami League torch procession.
