CLAIM
A set of images are being circulated with the claim that the girl seen in the photos was found in a train coming from Mumbai and has been identified as Sonal Bipin Patel. The claim further mentions that the girl was seen in Mangalore, Karnataka with ‘Tamil beggars.’
Several social media users have shared the images on Facebook and Twitter with a similar claim.
The Quint received a query about this viral post via its Whatsapp helpline.
TRUE OR FALSE?
The claim with which the images are being shared is misleading. In this photo, the girl is not in Mangalore, but in Bangladesh.
IMAGES NOT FROM INDIA
On performing a Google reverse image search, we were led to a tweet that had shared the viral images of the girl. Comments on the tweet suggested that the images are from Bangladesh, and the currency notes in her hand are Bangladeshi as well.
We compared the currency notes in the girl’s hand to that of Bangladesh and confirmed that they were indeed same.
Further, Google reverse image search also led us to an article by Ajker Comilla that was published on Saturday, 13 July 2019. The article, based on Facebook user Asif Akbar’s post, mentioned that the girl was abducted nearly two years ago from Bagerhat Khan Jahan Ali Mazar in Bangladesh’s Jessore district. The post further mentioned contact details of girl’s uncle and President of Bagharpara Upazila Press Club Iqbal Kabir.
Iqbal Kabir told The Quint that the girl was indeed kidnapped but could not ascertain if she was kidnapped two years ago.
“The girl in the pictures is from Bangladesh. She has not been found yet and I am not sure about her parents’ whereabouts.”Iqbal Kabir, President of Bagharpara Upazila Press Club
In an attempt to find her parents, he travelled to Chittagong’s Khulshi district but was unable to find them. According to him, they are either from Khulshi or Jessore district in Bangladesh.
On being questioned about how he is linked to the story, he said that 10 days back, a man showed him the girl’s images and asked whether he could upload them on the internet along with Kabir’s number. Consequently, Kabir gave him the permission.
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