Video of clash between supporters of two BJP leaders shared with false claim

A video of a group of people smashing car windows and damaging vehicles – some with BJP flags on them – is viral on social media. It has been claimed that this is how locals in Uttar Pradesh responded to BJP leaders rallying in the state ahead of the polls next year. Facebook user Moni Singh shared the clip with this claim, which racked up over 1,400 views at the time of writing. (Archive link)

Another Facebook user shared the visuals with the same claim. (Archive link)

The video is widespread on Facebook.

Fact-check

About 5 seconds into the video, a van with a speaker that has ‘Agra’ printed on it appears on the screen.

Alt News performed a keyword search based on this discovery, which led us to a few news reports. News18 reported on the incident on December 7. According to the outlet, the BJP had taken out a bike rally in Uttar Pradesh, during which a clash broke out between supporters of two different leaders from the party.

Live Hindustan also tweeted a video of the scuffle. The tweet stated that during BJP leader Raja Mahendra Aridaman Singh’s bike rally in Agra’s Pinahat, supporters of former minister Sugriv Singh Chauhan got into a fight with Singh’s supporters. Stones were thrown by both sides and the group also smashed car windows. As a result, a few people sustained injuries as well.

आगरा में #BJP नेता अरिदमन सिंह की बाइक रैली के दौरान बवाल हो गया। पिनाहट में पूर्व मंत्री सुग्रीव सिंह चौहान के समर्थक आपस में भिड़ गए। पथराव और गाड़ियों में तोड़फोड़ से अफरातफरी मच गई। पथराव में कई लोग घायल हो गए हैं। pic.twitter.com/ttXGPimMB1

— Hindustan (@Live_Hindustan) December 7, 2021

Amar Ujala reported that in addition to charges being filed against Singh, charges were filed against 146 known and 200 unknown individuals. The charges were filed at the behest of Chauhan’s cousin brother Bholaram.

Anuja Jaiswal of the Times of India also shared a Twitter thread on the incident.

#watch: clash between supporters of two groups during a bike rally. pic.twitter.com/xDDCYQXWlI

— Anuja Jaiswal (@AnujaJaiswalTOI) December 7, 2021

To sum it up, supporters of two BJP leaders got into a heated argument which led to stone-pelting from both sides. A video of this was falsely circulated on social media as locals in Uttar Pradesh protesting the arrival of the BJP leaders in the state.