Old Image Viral to Falsely Claim Col Sofia Qureshi’s Home Destroyed in Belagavi

Belgavi police noted that this information was fake and nothing like so had happened.

Fact-Check: This image is from 2024. Police denied any attacks on Col. Quershi's house or family. 

(Source: The Quint) 

A photo showing vandalism is being shared to claim that it shows Colonel Sofia Qureshi's home in Belagavi in Karnataka, destroyed by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), following Operation Sindoor.

An archive of the post can be found here. 

(Source: X/Screenshot) 

(Archives of similar claims can be found here and here.)

Is the claim true?: No, the claim is false.

• Belagavi police denied that no such incident took place.

• Additionally, the viral image is old from 2024. It shows a polling booth vandalised in Indiganatta village of Hanur in Chamarajanagar district, Karnataka.

What we found: At first, we ran a relevant keyword search and found a statement by the police in Belagavi.

• As per Zee Kannada, the police noted that there had been fake news about an attack on Colonel Qureshi's family was led by RSS.

• It also noted that the police maintained tight security at Sophia Qureshi's maternal uncle's house in Belagavi.

• They also mentioned that this fake post came from an X account of Anees Uddin, a resident of Gaussab Bagewadi in Gokak village.

• Similarly, we ran a Google reverse image on the image and found a report by the New Indian Express from April 2024.

• The report carried the viral image showing vandalism. It noted that a polling booth was vandalised in Indiganatta village of Hanur taluk in Chamarajanagar district.

Here is a preview of the report.

(Source: TNIE/Screenshot) 

• The report noted that villagers in Indiganatha, Karnataka, attacked a polling booth during the Lok Sabha elections, destroying EVMs and injuring officials on 26 April 2024.

• The violence stemmed from years of frustration over poor infrastructure, including lack of roads, electricity, and drinking water

• The protest escalated when officials tried to convince nearby villagers to vote, leading to stone-pelting and a police lathi charge. In response, the Election Commission ordered a re-poll at the booth on 29 April.

Conclusion: An old photo has gone viral to falsely claim that it shows Col. Qureshi's home destroyed by RSS in Belagavi.

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