No, video doesn't show 'Rohingya Muslims capturing a mosque' in India

What is the claim?

A video circulating on social media claims to show a violent clash between Rohingyas and Indian Muslims. The video is said to depict a confrontation that erupted after Rohingya Muslims allegedly seized a mosque from Indian Muslims. However, the location of the purported incident is not specified in the claims.

On X (formerly Twitter), a user posted, "Rohingyas & Indian Muslims - fight. Rohingya Muslims captured the Mosque of Indian Muslims because Rohingya consider them converted Muslims." The post garnered over 11,900 views, 675 reposts, and 1,100 likes. Archived versions of these posts can be found here and here. 

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

In reality, the video depicts a clash between two factions of the management committee of a mosque in Bilasipara, Assam's Dhubri district. It does not show any conflict between Rohingya and Indian Muslims, as claimed.

How did we find out?

A reverse image search of a keyframe led us to an ANI report that included a screenshot of the viral video. According to the report, the incident occurred on December 30, 2022, and involved a clash between two groups within the Bilasipara Bangalipara Mosque management committee in Assam's Dhubri district.

The report states that one person was killed and several others injured in the incident. Superintendent of Police Aparna N. confirmed to ANI that two separate cases were registered and two individuals were arrested. The report made no mention of Rohingyas and clarified that the conflict was between factions of the mosque committee.

Further investigation revealed additional reports about the Dhubri incident. A video report by Times Now, featuring visuals from the viral video, confirms that the clash involved two factions of the mosque committee and resulted in the death of one person, identified as Harun Rashid.

Logically Facts contacted T. Boro, officer-in-charge of Bilasipara police station, Dhubri. Boro confirmed that the video depicts an "internal clash over the control of the management committee" and denied any involvement of Rohingyas. He added, "Two cases were registered (case no 390/2022 and case no 391/2022) at Bilasipara police station concerning the clash between the groups in 2022."

We also spoke with Aminur Islam, a local reporter from Bilasipara who was present during the incident. Islam explained, "The altercation began after Friday prayers when some individuals questioned the mosque committee about account maintenance. The situation quickly escalated into violence." He further clarified, "No Rohingya Muslims were involved. The conflict was solely over the management of the mosque committee, and all individuals involved belong to the Deshi Muslim community (local to Assam)."

The verdict

A nearly two-year-old video showing an internal clash between two factions of a mosque committee in Bilasipara, Assam, has been falsely represented as a conflict between Rohingya Muslims and Indian Muslims. Multiple reports, local journalists, and police confirmations verify this.