Old demolition video shared as 'bulldozer justice' following Bahraich violence

What is the claim?

In light of recent communal tensions in Bahraich, in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, and the death of Ram Gopal Mishra on October 13, a video of a demolished settlement has been circulating online. Those sharing the video claim it depicts "bulldozer justice" by the Uttar Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, against the alleged murderers of Mishra.

The video was shared on the official Facebook page of Sadhvi Prachi, a leader of the radical right-wing organization Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). The caption in Hindi translates to: "Those who killed Gopal, open your eyes and see… this is Baba's [Adityanath's] justice. Bahraich's Wazirganj became… Gaza. The bulldozer will enter whichever street the stones come from. The houses of Gopal's killers have been razed to the ground."

Several users on X (formerly Twitter) have also shared the video with similar claims; one post from October 19, 2024, has garnered over 63,500 views. Archives of this and similar posts are available here and here. Additionally, the video has been shared on Facebook with the same claim in Assamese. 

Screenshots of social media posts sharing the viral video. (Source: X/Screenshots)

The term "bulldozer" or "bulldozer justice" commonly refers to the demolition of settlements as 'punishment' for actions perceived as transgressions by governments in certain Indian states.

However, we found that the video predates the recent violence in Bahraich and depicts an eviction drive from September 2024.

What did we find?

A reverse image search of keyframes from the viral video led us to several YouTube videos (archived here) from September 2024 that contain the same footage. One video (archived here), uploaded on September 26, 2024, indicates it was filmed in Wazirganj Bazar, Bahraich. Inlaid text in Hindi translates to: "Wazirganj has been drowned in sorrow."

The viral video was shared on YouTube on September 26, 2024. (Source: YouTube)

We noticed a watermark for "@altaf.studio" on the YouTube video, allowing us to trace the user's Instagram profile (archived here). He shared the original video (archived here) on September 26, 2024, with the caption, "Wazirganj | Apna Wazirganj | Bahraich." Furthermore, the Instagram user appears in the viral video at the 0:24 timestamp.

The Instagram user appears in the viral video at 0:24 seconds. (Source: Instagram/X/Modified by Logically Facts)

Logically Facts contacted the Instagram user, Altaf, who confirmed that he recorded the video on September 26 following an eviction drive at Wazirganj Bazar in Bahraich. "This video is not related to the recent incident in Bahraich; it was captured after the eviction drive following a high court order," he stated.

The demolition depicted in the video occurred in Wazirganj Bazar, located in the Fakharpur block of Bahraich district, while the violence took place in Maharajganj, in the Mahsi block. These are separate localities.

Additionally, Bahraich police issued a clarification supporting Altaf's claim that the video is from September 25, 2024. Refuting the viral claim in an X post (archived here), Bahraich Police stated in Hindi, "The visuals shown are from a court-ordered anti-encroachment drive conducted in the Fakharpur area of Bahraich district on September 25, 2024, and not related to the incident in Maharajganj that occurred a few days ago."

Screenshot of Bahraich police's clarification on X. (Source: X/Bahraich Police)

Multiple reports confirm the eviction drive that occurred in Bahraich on September 25. According to the Hindustan Times, the district administration bulldozed 23 illegal structures "that were illegally built on a barn and a road at Sarai Jagna village under Fakharpur police station in Bahraich’s Kaiserganj" following an order from the Allahabad High Court.

Bahraich violence

The recent communal tensions began after the killing of 22-year-old Mishra during a violent clash between two communities during a Durga Puja procession in Maharajganj, according to The Economic Times.

The Telegraph reported that a total of 104 individuals have been arrested in connection with the violence that erupted after this incident. The Public Works Department (PWD) has issued notices to 23 establishments, including 20 belonging to Muslims, along the Kundasar-Mahasi-Nanpara-Maharajganj road in Bahraich.

However, The Times of India reported that on October 22, the Supreme Court of India received assurance from the Uttar Pradesh government that no demolition actions would be taken against establishments belonging to individuals allegedly involved in the Bahraich violence until October 23. This followed the Allahabad High Court granting an extension of 15 days for filing replies to the PWD notices. Consequently, the viral video is unrelated to the communal violence in the area.

Logically Facts has previously addressed misinformation surrounding Mishra's death. You can read our earlier story here.

The verdict

The video circulating as evidence of "bulldozer justice" against the alleged culprits in Ram Gopal Mishra's murder case is misleading. Although the recent violence in Bahraich began on October 13, the viral clip originates from September 25 and depicts an eviction drive following a high court order.