Since post-poll violence erupted in West Bengal, old and unrelated images have been circulating on social media. Twitter user @Hindu_2_o shared a set of images where one of the pictures showed a mob gathered in front of a building in flames. His tweet drew over 1,000 retweets as of the writing.
#नींद_से_जागो_अमित_शाह_जी bcz #BengalBurning by #tmcgoons
#Shamemamatabannerjee for giving #TMCTerror
We want #PresidentRuleInBengal bcz of #BengalViolence
Hindus are being killed like KASHMIRIs and BJP pronounce for Nationwide Dharna!! Shame!!
Bengal needs a Gopal Patha! pic.twitter.com/RlO0WUgsrc
— 𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐔【𝟚.𝕠】प्रशासक समिति✊🚩 (@Hindu_2_o) May 4, 2021
Another user @takale_abhishek posted this image along with others photos and wrote, “We want #PresidentRuleInBengal bcz of #BengalViolence #Hindus are being killed like Kashmiris…”
#नींद_से_जागो_अमित_शाह_जी bcz #BengalBurning by #tmcgoons
#Shamemamatabannerjee for giving #TMCTerror
We want #PresidentRuleInBengal bcz of #BengalViolence #Hindus are being killed like Kashmiris and BJP pronounce for Nationwide Dharna!! Shame!!
Bengal needs a Gopal Patha! pic.twitter.com/iAAvuYrCIV
— 🚩Abhishek Takale🚩 (@takale_abhishek) May 4, 2021
Twitter user @Priya70554146 shared the image and blamed TMC for the violence.
Congratulations to the people of west Bengal for choosing TMC murder crimes
Best wishes for your bright future. #BengalViolence pic.twitter.com/WjDDsCOkoT— Priya (@Priya70554146) May 4, 2021
Image from 2019
The image in question is from the clash between supporters of the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) at Vidyasagar College in May 2019. The image was published by The Statesman and Swaraj Digital. It was credited to Twitter @ishowcase01 (no longer active). The Statesman reported that BJP and TMC supporters fought on the streets of Kolkata during a massive roadshow by Home Minister Amit Shah.
Violence at Vidyasagar college had given rise to misinformation before the general elections in 2019. BJP members and supporters denied that the party played any role in the violence. Alt News had published an elaborate report on the claims made by Amit Shah.
A two-year-old photo has thus been falsely linked to post-poll violence in West Bengal.
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