Clash between two groups over idol immersion in Bilaspur falsely viral with communal spin – Alt News

A video of a clash in which a group of people are seen pelting stones and sticks at a truck is being circulated widely on social media. It has been claimed that the footage is from a clash in Chattisgarh’s Bilaspur. According to the accompanying message, Hindus were allegedly attacked with swords, sticks, and rods during the idol immersion ceremony of the Hindu deity Durga. As per Hindu tradition, the idol of the deity is immersed at the end of Navratri. It is worth noting that the viral message mentions Hindus being attacked. In other words, users are stating the perpetrators of the attack are from another religious community.

Twitter user Vishnu Kumar Mishra amplified the footage with this claim. The post was retweeted by more than 385 handles at the time of writing. (Archived link)

Twitter user ‘Yogi Yogesh Agarwal (Dharmasena)’ also shared the video with a similar message. He questioned for how long Hindus will be thrashed for celebrating their festivals in their own country. (Archived link)

#अपने_ही_देश में अपने तीज- त्यौहार मनाने पर कब तक पिटेगा हिंदू ?
बिलासपुर की इतिहास में पहली बार इस तरह क्रूरता ..
बिलासपुर सदर बाजार की सड़क से माँ दुर्गा विषर्जन करने जा रहे हिन्दुओ पर तलवार लाठी डंडे रॉड से हमला माँ दुर्गा के मूर्ति पर हमला हिन्दुओ पर पत्थरबाजी … pic.twitter.com/WZ56ODRGIz

— योगी योगेश अग्रवाल (धर्मसेना) (@yogeshDharmSena) October 9, 2022

Several other Twitter users also promoted the video. (Link 1, Link 2, Link 3)

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The video is widespread on Facebook with the same claim.

Fact-check

Alt News performed a keyword search, which led us to a report by News18. The article has quoted the police as saying that a scuffle broke out between two Durga Puja committees during the idol immersion in Bilaspur on October 7. During the clash, both groups attacked each other’s members with sticks and stones. According to the police, this row broke out over which party would go for the immersion ceremony first.

News agency ANI also tweeted about this video. The thread quotes ASP Rajendra Jaiswal, who states that the dispute was between two Durga Puja committees and the police are still interrogating the accused in this case.

Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh | Scuffle broke out between members of 2 Durga puja committees over which party would go for immersion first. Suspects are in police custody, interrogation is going on. Action will be taken against the accused: Rajendra Jaiswal, ASP pic.twitter.com/KtRzZkGltg

— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) October 7, 2022

Hindi daily Dainik Bhaskar reported that during the Durga immersion in Bilaspur, religious processions were passing from Devkinandan Chowk to Juna Bilaspur. Meanwhile, a dispute arose between devotees from Shanichari Bazaar and Kududand Durgotsav Samiti. People from both parties attacked each other with sticks and lathis. According to the report, “Following the dispute, both parties have filed cases against each other. Abhijit Tiwari has filed a case against Himanshu Rai, Shailesh, Paras and others, while on the other side, Shailesh Kashyap has filed an FIR against Naveen Tiwari, Vijay Gupta and others.

To sum it up, a video of a scuffle between two Durga Puja committees in Chattisgarh’s Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh was falsely circulated on social media as an ‘attack on Hindus’.

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