A still from a Bhojpuri film was shared on social media as an image of violence in West Bengal.
Highlights
- Bhojpuri film still shared as image of communal unrest in Bengal
- Image shared by social media users to target Bengal administration
- At least one person has died in riots that broke out this week
The Kolkata Police on Saturday said they have arrested a person for sharing an image from a Bhojpuri film and passing it off as one from West Bengal's North 24 Parganas that has been
hit by communal violence leaving at least one dead.
Since being shared, social media users and fact-checking websites like Alt News have
pointed out that the still was taken from a Bhojpuri movie called "
Aurat Khilona Nahi" released in 2014.
Among those who shared the image, targeting the West Bengal government, on social media was Vijeta Malik, an official of the BJP's Haryana unit.
At a press conference today, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attacked the centre and blamed the BJP, its ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and other groups for the violence.
"Action will be taken for spreading fake pictures and videos. The law will take its own course. I congratulate the people of Bengal for not getting trapped by those spreading rumours and communal hatred. Peace has been restored," she said.
She mentioned the Bhojpuri film image and another photograph of violence from Bangladesh being shared to provoke unrest.
Violence flared on Monday in Baduria and Basirhat and spread to other towns in the North 24 Parganas district after a Facebook post by a 17-year-old about Prophet Mohammad angered Muslims. The teen was arrested and has been sent to jail.
Meanwhile, the West Bengal police have put out a series of tweets asking people not to be influenced by fake messages or posts on social media that are designed to create trouble.