Video of BJP leader assaulting differently abled man for criticising BJP is from 2018

National spokesperson of the Samajwadi Party IP Singh posted a 41-second clip of a broadcast by ABP News. In the video, the anchor reports that a BJP leader attacked a differently-abled person who said he will be voting for Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal city. Several other Twitter users posted this video. Singh’s video gained over 8,000 views. He shared it ahead of the upcoming elections in UP.

हालात आपातकाल से भी बदतर हो गए हैं उत्तर प्रदेश में,
सपा का नाम लेने पर भाजपा नेता ने विकलांग व्यक्ति को डंडे से पीटा।

योगी का मतलब गुंडाराज
योगी का मतलब जंगलराज pic.twitter.com/EF9CaUr1gz

— I.P. Singh (@IPSinghSp) December 27, 2021

Some Facebook users also posted this video. (1, 2)

2018 video

Sambhal police responded to Singh’s tweet and stated that the bulletin is from 2018.

उपरोक्त वीडियो वर्ष 2018 का है कृपया इसको वर्तमान का वीडियो बताकर असत्य और भ्रामक दुष्प्रचार ना करें, अन्यथा आप के विरुद्ध वैधानिक कार्यवाही की जाएगी । pic.twitter.com/uUXv66RB8E

— SAMBHAL POLICE (@sambhalpolice) December 27, 2021

Alt News performed a keyword search and found the 2018 ABP bulletin. At the 48-second mark, the anchor states that the incident took place on December 24. The anchor also states that the BJP leader who attacked the man was Mohammad Mian.

The Times of India reported the incident. The victim’s name is Gujjar, a resident of Khurja Gate in Chandausi tehsil. The report stated, “The incident occurred on Monday evening when a delegation of local BJP workers along with Sambhal district president Rajesh Singhal went to meet with Sambhal sub-divisional magistrate Dipender Yadav inside the collectorate. Gujjar, a resident of Khurja Gate in Chandausi Tehsil, on seeing the BJP workers started chanting slogans in favour of Samajwadi Party president and former CM Akhilesh Yadav. Gujjar also criticised BJP leaders including PM Modi and CM Yogi Adityanath. Mian then took a stick out of his vehicle and started assaulting the youth. ”

TOI reported that SDM Singhal ordered the police to arrest Gujjar under charges of breach of peace and sent him to jail. He was released the next day.

It must be noted that Sambhal superintendent of police Yamuna Prasad told TOI that BJP leader Mohammad Mian has criminal antecedents and is a known history-sheeter at Asmoli police station.

Samajwadi Party leader IP Singh, therefore, posted a 2018 video in which a local BJP leader can be seen attacking a differently-abled person for chanting pro-SP chants and criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.