No, Policemen Did Not Thrash the Woman Smeared in Blood
These images are from a 2016 video of a woman and her husband being assaulted by a group of men, in UP’s Mainpuri.
CLAIM
An image of a woman smeared in blood, standing next to police personnel, is being circulated on social media with the claim that she was beaten up by the policemen.
The post has been widely shared on Facebook, slamming the Narendra Modi-led BJP government’s ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ initiative. It goes on to say, “Modi, if you’re not able to handle the position you’ve been placed in, then resign. We will not tolerate the police’s nuisance anymore.”
An archived version of the post can be seen here.
WHAT IS THE TRUTH?
These images are from a 2016 video in which a woman and her husband can be seen being assaulted, in Uttar Pradesh's Mainpuri district, after they protested against some lewd comments made by a group of men.
WHAT WE FOUND
A Google reverse image search led us to an India Today report which said that the incident is from 2016. We found several media reports, including the one published on The Quint, which said the incident took place in Uttar Pradesh's Mainpuri.
The incident took place at a busy marketplace in Kishani village, after the victim approached one of the accused and asked him the address of a certain shop in the area. A verbal spat broke out between the two parties after the accused reportedly asked her to come inside with him.
The accused hurled abuses and then attacked the couple with sticks in broad daylight as onlookers watched. The ensuing mayhem left the woman bleeding profusely from the head.
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