A photo of masked youths pelting stones began circulating on social media, alleging that clashes recently broke out in Srinagar’s Batmaloo area during a co-ordination and search operation (CASO). India Today’s AFWA investigates the truth.
The footage goes viral
Two policemen were recently killed in Srinagar after a terrorist fired at them from close range. After the attack, security forces launched an operation to get the attacker.
Shortly after the incident, a photo of masked youths throwing stones began circulating on social media, alleging clashes broke out at Srinagar’s Batmaloo area during a cordon and search operation (CASO).
The caption with the picture says: “FLASH. Massive clashes erupted during ongoing CASO in Batmaloo Srinagar. ”
India Today Anti Fake News War Room (AFWA) found the allegation misleading. The photo was taken in Batmaloo during violent protests in July 2016. Although searches are underway in Srinagar, no massive clashes were reported before the story was submitted.
Very Facebook users also posted this photo with the same caption. The archived version can be seen here.
AFWA investigation
Using TinEye reverse search, we found the image in circulation on the website of ‘Getty Images”. Here is the caption that the photo was taken on 28 July 2016 when protesters in the Batmaloo area of Srinagar clashed with the security forces after Kashmiri terrorist Burhan Wani was killed in a shootout.
A similar picture of the same date can also be seen on ‘Getty Images”. The photos were clicked by AFP photographer Tauseed Mustafa. Burhan Wani was killed on July 8, 2016, after which the Valley faced its worst unrest since 2011, killing at least 49 people and injuring more than 3,000 in clashes.
In addition, we could not find any recent media report saying that clashes occurred during the search in Srinagar. Correspondents from India Today in Kashmir also confirmed to us that collisions have not yet been reported during ongoing CASOs.
ClaimRecent image from Batmaloo area in Srinagar where collisions during a cordon and security forces search.ClosureThe photo was taken in Batmaloo during violent protests in July 2016, following the death of Kashmiri terrorist Burhan Wani in a shootout with security forces.
JHOOTH BOLE KAUVA KAATE
The number of crows determines the intensity of the lie.
- 1 Crow: Half true
- 2 crows: mostly lies
- 3 crows: absolutely false
