Mock drill video from Ambadevi temple, Maharashtra shared as terrorists arrested

A video of a group of men dressed in army fatigues rounding up people is being shared on social media with the claim that these were terrorists arrested in Ambadevi temple, Maharashtra. In the video, several policemen can also be seen in the video while a few others are filming the incident. The Marathi-text shared along with the video reads, “अमरावती ला देवी मदींरात आतकंवादी पकडल्या (terrorist arrested at Ambadevi temple)”.

Alt News had received a fact-check request on its official app. A few more individuals on Facebook have shared the video with a similar narrative.

Mock drill video

Alt News found that the video actually represents a mock drill near Ambadevi temple in Amravati, Maharastra. With a keyword search on Google, we found a video of the same mock drill posted by a local news outlet VCN News.

In the image posted below, a screenshot (on the left) from the viral video is juxtaposed with a screengrab from the news report on the right. In the annotated image below, the people who posed as terrorists during the exercise can be seen in the viral video as well as the news report which clarified it to be a mock drill.

According to the news report, the rehearsal was conducted on the morning of July 27, 2019. Speaking to VCN News, a police officer informs that the mock drill was carried out by Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Quick Response Team (QRT) and local police. They play-acted to capture three terrorists.

Alt News also got in touch with Amravati police to ascertain whether the video depicted a mock-drill. PI Shivaji Bachate said, “It was a mock drill.” He also confirmed that the exercise was carried out on July 27.

In conclusion, a video of mock drill which took place at Amravati’s Ambadevi temple in Maharastra was circulated with a false claim that terrorists were arrested at the site. Earlier in April this year, a video of mock-drill carried out by Gujarat police at Ambaji temple in Banaskantha district was falsely shared as a terror attack.