No, ASI Dhannaram did not “fake” injuries sustained during violence on Eid in Jodhpur

by Kinjal

Violence broke out in Jodhpur on the intervening night of May 2 and 3 after a group of BJP supporters forcibly removed Eid flags and loudspeakers. Following this, on the morning of Eid, members of the Muslim community sloganeered and pelted stones. A few police officers were also injured in the violence. Internet services were later suspended and a curfew was imposed in the area. 97 people have been arrested in this case so far.

Against this backdrop, a video of a policeman is making the rounds on social media. It has been claimed that the policeman, seen in the video tying a blood-stained handkerchief on his head, was pretending to be injured.

Facebook user Mufi Mohd. Zubair Qasmi also amplified the video and viral claim along with a newspaper clipping. (Archive link)

जोधपुर हिंसा मामले में अखबार में जिस पुलिसकर्मी का फोटो छपा है,,,
आइये उसकी हक़ीक़त से आपको रु-ब-रु करवाते है,,,,।

देखिये किस तरह से पुलिस और मीडिया नैरेटिव सेट करती है।

Posted by Mufti Mohd Zubair Qasmi on Thursday, May 5, 2022

Several Twitter users promoted the video and accompanying claim.

Using the Crowdtangle, Alt News discovered that the footage and accompanying claim were circulated on a number of Facebook pages and groups.

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Fact-check

Rewatching the video frame by frame, we noticed the injury on the policeman’s forehead. Furthermore, blood was trickling down the back of his hand.

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Jodhpur Police took to Twitter to condemn the viral claims on social media. As per the tweet, ASI Dhannaram suffered a head injury during the violence at Jalori Gate. An FIR was also lodged over the incident at the Sardarpura Police Station.

Alt News contacted Sardarpura Police Station and was able to speak with ASI Dhannaram. He informed that he was on duty on the day of Eid and following the prayers, a group of miscreants began throwing stones during which he got injured. He used a handkerchief to wipe away the blood. He later tied the same handkerchief around his head. ASI Dhannaram also sent us a picture of the wound.

To sum it up, a video of ASI Dhannaram, a police officer injured in the Jodhpur violence, was circulated with a misleading claim that he was faking his injuries.

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About the Author

Kinjal Parmar holds a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology. However, her keen interest in journalism, drove her to pursue journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication. At Alt News since 2019, she focuses on authentication of information which includes visual verification, media misreports, examining mis/disinformation across social media. She is the lead video producer at Alt News and manages social media accounts for the organization.