Clip from Bangladesh shared as ‘TMC goons & Islamist mob' attacking Hindus in West Bengal

What is the claim?

Social media users have shared a viral video depicting a group of men shouting at passengers inside a car, claiming it shows members of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and an “Islamist mob” attacking a Hindu family in the Indian state of West Bengal. The video features children in the back seats of the car and a distressed man in the driver’s seat, pleading with the men outside.

A user on X (formerly Twitter) shared this video with the caption: “Bharat Very terrible... Acts like genocide of Hindus are being carried out in West Bengal, India. TMC goons and Islamist mob together stop a Hindu car in which a woman, husband and little girl are sitting. The Hindu woman and her family are begging for their lives. If Hindus do not wake up, the same thing will happen to you tomorrow (sic).” Archived versions of such posts can be accessed here and here.

Screenshot of the viral video shared online. (Source: X/Modified by Logically Facts)

However, the claim is false as the video is from Bangladesh, not West Bengal.

Here are the facts

A reverse image search led to the exact video uploaded on the YouTube channel of SOMOY TV, a Bangladeshi Bengali-language television channel, on February 7, 2024 (archived here). The video was titled in Bangla: “Park visitors attacked by staff Green Aaron Park | Mymensingh Somoy TV (rough translation).”

According to the video report, employees of Green Aronno Park, a park and resort in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, attacked the family of a man named Shahjahan Mia. The incident occurred when the family was leaving the park, following a verbal dispute over ticketing for a ride.

RTV Online, a Bangladeshi news outlet, also featured a screenshot from the viral video in its report on February 7, 2024. According to RTV Online, Shahjahan Mia, from Gazipur district, visited Green Aronno Park in Bhaluka, Mymensingh district, on February 5, 2024, with his wife and children. A disagreement with park staff over a ride ticket escalated, leading park authorities and staff to attack Shahjahan’s car and attempt to break its windows. The video gained widespread online circulation and public condemnation.

On February 6, Shahjahan filed a complaint against the park employees at Bhaluka Model Police Station. The police subsequently arrested three staffers involved in the attack: Abu Naeem (38), Hasan Chowdhury (40), and Atiyar Rahman (37), as reported.

The official Facebook account of the Tourist Police Sylhet region (archived here) shared photos of the arrested individuals. According to the post, Shah Kamal Akand, Officer-in-Charge of Bhaluka Model Police Station, stated that Sub-Inspector Aminul Islam is investigating the case, with three arrests made in connection with it.

Logically Facts visually confirmed that the individuals arrested were indeed the same ones depicted in the viral video.

A comparison of the arrested accused with the viral video. (Source: X/Facebook/Modified by Logically Facts)

The verdict

A video from Bangladesh, dating back four months, showing a tourist family being assaulted by amusement park employees, has been shared with a false narrative suggesting it took place in West Bengal, India, alongside a communal context.