Video of students being assaulted in Andhra Pradesh college is from February, not recent

(Trigger Warning: The following article contains distressing visuals and mentions of violence. Reader discretion is advised.)

What is the claim?

A graphic 5:44-minute video depicting individuals being attacked with sticks is circulating on social media. This video is claimed to illustrate the decline in law and order in Andhra Pradesh following the recent Assembly elections, where the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) came to power. It was initially shared with the claim that it shows an incident of ragging at SSN College in Palnadu district, Andhra Pradesh.

The video was also posted by the official account of the YSR Congress Party (archived here). While the party did not make broad claims, it tagged the state's home minister, Vangalapudi Anitha, questioning the government about an "increase in ragging incidents" in the state.

The post used the hashtag #SaveAPFROMTDP, and other users shared the video with hashtags like #TDPJSPGOVT. Similar posts can be seen here and here. The alliance of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Jana Sena Party (JSP), and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) formed the government in the state in the recent elections, replacing the incumbent YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).

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

However, the incident occurred in February 2024, during the YSRCP's tenure in office.

What did we find?

A search for news reports on this incident led us to a July 25, 2024, article in the Telugu daily Eenadu, which included screenshots from the video. According to the report, the incident occurred on February 2, 2024, in the boys' hostel of Sri Subbaraya Narayana (SSN) Aided Degree College in Narasaraopeta, Palnadu district.

The video, however, only emerged on July 24, 2024. Another Telugu daily, Andhrajyothy, also featured screenshots from the video and reported that the incident was brought to light on July 24, 2024. Following this, a case was filed against six individuals. Reports from ETV Bharat and Deccan Chronicle confirm these details.

Screenshot of the report in Andhrajyothy (Source: Andhrajyothy)

We contacted the Narasaraopeta One Town Police Station, under whose jurisdiction this incident occurred. Circle Inspector (CI) C Krishna Reddy informed Logically Facts that the incident occurred on February 2, 2024. He explained that third-year students of the college had assaulted second-year students as part of a ragging ritual. Although the accused left the college upon completing their course, a First Information Report (FIR) numbered 91/2024 was filed on July 24, 2024. As of now, one accused has been arrested.

Logically Facts accessed the FIR filed in the case, which also states that the incident took place on February 2, 2024.

The FIR filed in the case (Source: Andhra Pradesh police)

The official fact-check unit of the Government of Andhra Pradesh also clarified (archived here) on X on July 25, 2024, that the incident took place in February 2024, not recently.

Screenshot of the clarification issued by Andhra Pradesh Government’s Fact Check Unit (Source: X/FactCheck.AP.Gov.in)

The YSRCP was in power in Andhra Pradesh from May 2019 to April 2024. The TDP-JSP-BJP alliance government was sworn in on June 12, 2024.

The verdict

The video of college students being assaulted in Andhra Pradesh has been misleadingly shared to suggest that the state's law and order situation has worsened under the current TDP-led government. In reality, the video is from February 2024, during the YSRCP's administration.