Video from Thane falsely viral as Muslim woman preventing flag hoisting on R-Day

A 2:20-minute long video is being circulated on social media with the claim that a Muslim woman in Maharashtra prevented people from hoisting the Indian national flag and snatched the photo of Bharat Mata (Mother India) on Republic Day.

In the video, the woman can be seen arguing with people gathered around her and holding a photo of Bharat Mata. Security guards present in the crowd tell her multiple times to let go of the photo and engage in a conversation but the woman refuses, stating that “Mata Rani’s” photo does not belong in the hands of a man. The altercation soon turned violent with the woman slapping a few people and breaking the mobile phones of those recording her.

The video is viral on both Twitter and Facebook.

*ஜனவரி 26 நிகழ்ச்சியின் போது பாரத மாதா படத்தை வைக்க எதிர்ப்பு தெரிவித்து அனைவரையும் தாக்கும் இஸ்லாமிய மாணவி*

*நம் நாட்டில் இத்தனை சுதந்திரத்தோடு இருக்கும் இவர்களுக்கா பாதுகாப்பு இல்லை*

*அதிக சுதந்திரமும் கொடுப்பது ஆபத்து என்பதை இந்தியா உணர வேண்டும்*😡😡 pic.twitter.com/vUPdYmsqNa

— G.M.KARTHIGAI SELVAM (@kselvam_bjp) February 1, 2022

Alt News has also received multiple requests to verify the claim on its official mobile application (Android, iOS).

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A YouTube channel also shared the video with an identical claim and received over 1000 views.

False anti-Muslim spin

According to a report by Navbharat Times, the incident took place on January 26, Republic Day, in the Lodha Amara residential complex in Thane, Maharashtra. A complaint was filed at Kapurbawdi police station against the woman by locals.

However, as per a video report by journalist Ronak Kotecha, the woman allegedly has a history of mental illness. Kotecha also stated that the police has filed an NC (complaint registered for non-cognizable offences) against the woman.

We also came across a tweet by Thane city police that confirms that an NC has been filed against the woman.

Furthermore, in a reply to one of the tweets which shared the viral video, an alleged resident from the woman’s housing society wrote that the woman is undergoing “psychological treatment”. The user deleted their tweet when Alt News reached out for comment and did not wish to speak for reasons unknown. Below is a screenshot of their tweet where the username and display picture have been blurred to protect the individual’s identity.

Speaking with Alt News, an inspector at Kapurbwadi police station informed, “The woman is Punjabi Hindu. She is not Muslim and people should avoid sharing such misinformation on social media.” He further added, “I cannot comment on her mental state because I am not a doctor but she did behave like someone of unsound mind. But the police is mainly concerned with people sharing misinformation on social media to create communal tensions.”

The video has, thus, been shared with the false claim that a Muslim woman prevented people from raising the Indian national flag and snatched Bharat Mata’s photo on Republic Day.