CLAIM
A video is going viral on social media claiming that an attack was launched by terrorists in Andhra Pradesh Tirupathi-Tirumala bypass road. In the video, the Indian Army personnel are seen engaging in a gunfight with the “terrorists”.
The “terrorist attack” video was first shared on YouTube followed by Facebook by many internet users. It was also circulated on WhatsApp.
TRUE OR FALSE?
The video has been shared with wrong information. The "terrorist attack" was in fact a mock drill conducted by the Indian Army.
Tirupati East Police Station's Chief Inspector told The Quint that it was "just an army exercise". "A mock drill and not any attack," he said.
On 11 January, a mock drill was conducted, which involved trained commandos, at two locations – Warangal’s Bhadrakali temple and MGM Hospital junction.
The same day, the video started doing rounds on social media with the false message that there has been a terrorist attack in Andhra Pradesh.
On 11 January, Warangal ACP Jogula Narsaiah told Telangana Today, "The mock drill is aimed at measures that have to be taken during a terrorist attack. How to rescue and evacuate the devotees/people, if they were held hostage in the temple and also detect and defuse the explosive devices installed by the terrorists."