On February 2, pro-BJP propaganda outlet Sudarshan News, known for publishing divisive misinformation, tweeted a video of Sikh men attacking a bus with swords. The channel tweeted, “Nation is watching everything with patience… Not just those resorting to such action… But also those supporting them… #IndiaAgainstPropaganda #KhalistaniExposed”. The video gained over one lakh views.
बड़े धैर्य के साथ देश देख रहा है ये सब कुछ…
सिर्फ करने वालों को नहीं…
उनका साथ भी देने वालों को..#IndiaAgainstPropaganda#KhalistaniExposed pic.twitter.com/GrX6fEaWg5— Sudarshan News (@SudarshanNewsTV) February 4, 2021
Facebook fan page ‘Haryana Roadways’ with close to 40,000 followers also shared the video and claimed that the men tried to kill the bus driver. The video gained over 7 million views.
Fact-check
Alt News performed a keyword search on Google and found that the incident is from September 2019. India News Punjab Live had uploaded the video on YouTube.
The Tribune reported that the video shows Nihang Sikh men damaging a PRTC (Pepsu Road Transport Corporation) Kapurthala depot bus with swords. It went viral on the eve of September 20, 2019. As per the report, the incident took place after the bus accidentally hit one of the horses of the jatha (armed Sikh group).
Hindi news outlet Jagran published a detailed report on the matter. In a written complaint to the police, driver Nirmal Singh (CK-382) said that he was taking a Kapurthala depot bus (PB09-X-3613) from Nakodar to Kapurthala on September 14 when the accident took place close to Tahli Gurudwara near Sunnada bridge around 8 am. One of the horses of the group of Nihangs travelling on the side of the bus was injured. Angered Nihangs attacked the bus with kirpans and spears.
“Based on the complaint and the viral video, a case has been registered against four unknown Nihangs under different sections. We are trying to ascertain where they hail from and to which jatha are they affiliated. The accused will be arrested soon,” said Kala Sanghian police station SSI Balbir Singh, according to Amar Ujala.
SSP Kapurthala Satinder Singh told The Tribune that the Kapurthala depot chose not to report the incident.
Sudarshan News falsely linked a two-year-old video of Nihang Sikhs attacking a bus after meeting with an accident to the farmers’ protest.
Independent journalism that speaks truth to power and is free of corporate and political control is possible only when people start contributing towards the same. Please consider donating towards this endeavour to fight fake news and misinformation.
