BBC’s video report on Delhi riots shared to depict police complicity in Tripura violence

A video of a BBC report on police’s alleged complicity during communal riots has been shared with the claim that the report is on the Tripura violence. At least seven people died in violence against the Muslim minority community in Tripura, with several Muslim shops and properties vandalised and set ablaze. The violence was sparked by attacks on Bangladesh’s Hindu minorities.

The BBC report is quite viral on Facebook with the same claim that it’s from Tripura. Alt News has also received verification requests for the video.

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It is also circulating on Twitter.

👆त्रिपुरा दंगे पर दलाल मीडिया ने
कुछ नहीं बताया मगर बीबीसी न्यूज़ ने
सारी पोल खोल कर रख दी#BBC news# 👆👆 pic.twitter.com/S1TAwJPYSW

— Ashiq Manzari (@AshiqManzari) November 2, 2021

Fact-check

The video does not depict police complicity during Tripura violence but the Delhi riots that took place in March 2020. Below is the BBC report and the viral portion begins after 32 seconds.

The BBC has found Delhi police acted along Hindu rioters during a wave of attack on Muslims last week. Police in the capital are coming under increasing pressure as allegations of complicity in the clashes emerge. An investigation by @yogital, @shaluyadavbbc & @NickWoolley1234 pic.twitter.com/i6oSmpkP1r

— BBC News India (@BBCIndia) March 3, 2020

BBC had reported that it “uncovered evidence” that the Delhi police “acted alongside Hindu rioters during a wave of attack on Muslims”. The channel gave eyewitness accounts claiming the police brought rioters stones and were accompanying rioters who set shops on fire.

To reiterate, the video doesn’t show communal violence in Tripura. Alt News had earlier debunked a video of police accompanying a Hindu procession during Ram Navami violence in Bihar. The 2018 video was also being shared as Tripura.