Unrelated video shared as YSRCP members attacking police constable in Andhra Pradesh

What is the claim?

A 32-second CCTV video circulating on social media depicts an individual striking a police officer with a large log. This footage has been shared with conflicting claims: one suggesting that ‘goons’ from the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) were responsible for the attack, and another alleging that it was members of the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) who were involved.

The YSRCP is currently in opposition in Andhra Pradesh, while TDP, along with the Jana Sena Party and Bharatiya Janata Party, forms the ruling coalition in the state.

A post (archived here) on X (formerly Twitter) claimed, “There is no protection for the police. YCP rowdy attacking a police constable in Gudur.” Gudur is a town in Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh. By the time of writing, this post had garnered over 73,000 views. Additionally, the video was shared with the counter-narrative that it depicted TDP supporters attacking the police. Archived versions of these posts are available here, here, and here.

Screenshot of the social media posts (Source: X/Modified by Logically Facts)

However, these claims are false. The police informed Logically Facts that the individual attacking the police in the video is not affiliated with either party and is from West Bengal.

What did we find?

Our investigation included reviewing news reports about the incident. Telugu news channel 10 TV (archive here) covered the event and the viral video. Their report described an incident in Gudur, where two police officers arrived at a shop on a motorcycle. While one officer entered the shop, an assailant attacked him from behind with a log. The attacker was identified as Kalindi from West Bengal.

The Telugu daily Eenadu (archive here) reported on July 18, 2024, that Swami Dass, a police constable at Gudur Rural Police Station, was assaulted, and the attacker was arrested and transferred to Gundur One Town Police Station. This was corroborated by the English daily Deccan Chronicle (archive here), which identified the attacker as 24-year-old Lalthu Kalindi from West Bengal.

We contacted the Gudur Rural Police Station. Circle Inspector Venu Gopal confirmed to Logically Facts that the attack occurred in Gudur and involved Swami Dass, who is stationed there as a constable. “There was no prior interaction between the two individuals. The attacker, Laltu Kalindi, is from West Bengal. This incident does not involve any political parties. A case has been filed against him,” Gopal said.

Further confirmation came from Gudur One Town Police Station. Sub-Inspector V Sri Hari informed Logically Facts that the incident fell under their jurisdiction. “The allegations that YSRCP or TDP members were involved are false,” he stated. An FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was filed against the accused.

Logically Facts accessed FIR number 87/2024, which noted that Laltu Kalindi attacked the police constable with a stick on July 18, 2024, at a juice shop. Kalindi was charged with attempted murder and assaulting a public servant.

The verdict

The video depicting a person from West Bengal attacking a police constable in Gudur has been falsely attributed to members of the YSRCP and TDP. The true details indicate no political party involvement.