False Communal Angle Added to Video of Robbers Adding Drugs in Dates in Howrah
The video shows robbers demonstrating their modus operandi after getting caught by the authorities.
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A video showing a man crushing medicine tablets, mixing it with water, and adding the paste into date palms is going viral on social media.
Users sharing this video are claiming that Muslim vendors were caught selling adulterated dates to Hindus.
The claim also states that the tables seen in the clip are 'impotence-inducing' medicines.
(Archives of similar claims can be seen here and here.)
What's the truth?: This clip is from Howrah, West Bengal, and there is no communal angle in this case.
It shows one of the members of the robbery gang demonstrating how they conceal sleeping pills inside dates to rob people on trains. They were performing the demonstration in front to the police, after getting caught.
How did we find out the truth?: We performed a reverse image search on some of the keyframes of the video, which led us to several Instagram posts and YouTube videos shared by local news channels.
The same video was shared by Taaza TV, SA News Chhattisgarh and Munsif TV India, and the caption stated that it shows a member of a robbery gang demonstrating how they mixed drugs with dates.
It also added that they were caught by the RPF team at Howrah station.
Taking a cue, we contacted Howrah GRP Police Station and officials confirmed to us there is no communal angle involved in this incident.
Moreover, the official also clarified that these pills are not impotence-inducing medicines.
We also found the FIR filed in regards to this case on the official portal.
It added that on 11 January, three robbers were arrested namely, Shambru Paswan (35), Govind Kumar (29) and Mohammad Irfan (54).
It also mentioned that they committed robberies on trains by giving passengers date palms mixed with the intoxicated pill, Ativan 2 MG, which induces sleep and makes one drowsy and dizzy.
This is screenshot of the FIR.
(Source: Online FIR copy/Screenshot)
Conclusion: A video showing a robber demonstrating adding sleeping pills to dates in front of Howrah police is being shared with a false communal narrative.
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