Staged video shared as altercation between Hindu and Muslim men

Context

On July 31, 2023, there was an outbreak of communal violence in Haryana's Nuh district. The turmoil occurred during a procession arranged by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the Bajrang Dal. Videos of the incident quickly spread across different social media platforms. According to a report by Deccan Herald, some individuals linked to right-wing groups asserted Hindus face substantial threats in regions dominated by a Muslim-majority, like Nuh.

Against this backdrop, a video has gone viral claiming to show a Muslim man behaving aggressively with a Hindu in a predominantly Muslim area. In the 56-second video, an individual dressed in saffron attire is standing, when a person wearing a kufi approaches and confronts him. Initially, the person in the saffron attire is questioned about the reason for their presence, followed by attempts to move them away from the area physically. The individual in asks whether a Hindu is not allowed to be present in a Muslim-majority area. As the situation unfolds, more people gather in the vicinity.

One post on the platform X (formerly known as Twitter) featuring the video had a Hindi caption: "They can stay in your area wearing a cap, roam around, you will not do anything, but if you go to their area wearing a saffron towel, they will start pushing you. This is called secular." The archives can be found here and here. 

The video is being shared with the claim that it is a conflict between a Muslim and a Hindu. (Source: X@MY961, @maheshyagyasain/Altered by Logically Facts)

The video was viral on Facebook with similar claims. 

The video is being shared on Facebook as well. (Source: Facebook/Altered by Logically Facts)

However, the video is staged and doesn't depict an actual event.

In fact

The logo of 'PM 2 Vlogs' is prominently displayed in the viral video. 'PM 2 Vlogs' is a verified YouTube channel with a collection of videos similar to viral content, and it has garnered approximately 279,000 subscribers. 

The logo of 'PM 2 Vlogs' is visible in the viral video. (Source: X@MY961/Altered by Logically Facts)

The extended version of the viral video was uploaded on July 26, 2023. The video is titled "हिंदू भाई को मुस्लिम भाई ने भगाया फिर | Social Experiment | Hindu Muslim | Hindu | Muslim | Media," and it has a duration of 19 minutes. 

The video was posted on the PM 2 Vlogs YouTube channel. (Source: YouTube/PM 2 Vlogs)

The segment corresponding to the viral video is visible at the 12:08-minute mark.

Screenshot of the video posted on the PM 2 Vlogs YouTube channel. (Source: YouTube/PM 2 Vlogs)

At the beginning of the YouTube video, following an 18-second teaser, the same two individuals featured in the viral video step into the frame. Both express their intention to produce such videos with the aim of eradicating bias between Hindus and Muslims. The video presents a sequence of clips resembling the viral video in which a Muslim man wearing a cap is observed engaging in a contentious exchange with an individual draped in a saffron scarf. These choreographed scenarios unfold in diverse locations in Delhi.

The segment featured in the viral video is shown at the 12:08-minute timestamp. By the time the video reaches 14:57, as a growing audience gathers, the performers disclose that they are in the process of making a video.

Furthermore, at the 17:15 timestamp, the video concludes with the man, who portrays a Muslim character in the viral video, identifying himself as Aziz Khan. He reveals that the individual dressed in saffron attire in the video is a man by the name of Parvez, who is portraying a Hindu character.

Screenshot of the video posted on PM 2 Vlogs YouTube channel. (Source: YouTube/PM 2 Vlogs)

We also came across the Facebook profile belonging to this man, Parvez Mirza. He also manages another YouTube channel titled 'Top Bakra.' Logically Facts has contacted Mirza for a comment on the viral video. This fact-check will be updated if and when we receive a response.

The verdict

The video is staged and does not depict an authentic occurrence. The initial recording was created by a content creator known as 'PM 2 Vlogs,' who intended to portray a sense of camaraderie between Hindus and Muslims.