CLAIM
A viral video on social media claims that Surendra Singh, officer-in-charge of Bankmore police station in Dhanbad, along with “his bodyguards” slapped children who were wearing masks of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s road show held on 7 May. Further, the video claims that Surendra Singh forced the children to chant, ‘Chowkidaar chor hai.’
‘ बेकमोड़ में राहुल गांधी के रोड शो के दौरान सड़क के किनारे खड़े बच्चे ने देश के मोदी जी का मुखौटा पहन रखा था उसी दौरान थाना प्रभारी सुरेंद्र सिंह एवं उसके बॉडीगार्ड के द्वारा जोर से थप्पड़ जड़ दिया गया। और चौकिदार चोर है बोलने की ज़बरदस्ती की’’
(Translated: At Bankmore, during Rahul Gandhi’s road show, children standing at one side of the road were wearing Modi ji’s masks. During which, officer-in-charge Surendra Singh and his bodyguards slapped the children. Also, they forced the children to chant, ‘Chowkidaar chor hai.’)
Several social media users shared the video on Twitter and Facebook with similar claim.
The Quint also received a query about the claims made about the same video via our WhatsApp helpline.
TRUE OR FALSE?
While it’s true that officer-in-charge of the Bankmore police station in Dhanbad did slap the children who were wearing Narendra Modi’s masks, but the reason is different to what is being claimed on social media, a local reporter told The Quint.
WHAT WE FOUND OUT?
The local reporter, who was covering the rally and was present while the video was being shot, told The Quint that it was not Surendra Singh who forced the children to chant, ‘Chowkidaar chor hai,’ but a Congress supporter. He also said that Surendra Singh repeatedly told the children to remove Modi’s masks to maintain law and order. When the children did not listen to him, he slapped them, the reporter said.
Futher, a policeman at Dhanbad’s Bankmore police station claimed Singh was just doing his duty with no political bias and never asked the children to chant ‘Chowkidaar chor hai.’
“Around 20-25 people entered the area wearing Narendra Modi’s masks. Surendra Singh repeatedly told them to take them off as a rally was going on. Hence, to maintain law and order, they were asked to remove mask. Since, they didn’t listen to him, in the heat of the moment, he slapped the children. As they were wearing masks, it was difficult to find out whether they were young children or adults.”Policeman
(Not convinced of a post or information you came across online and want it verified? Send us the details on WhatsApp at 9910181818, or e-mail it to us at webqoof@thequint.com and we'll fact-check it for you. You can also read all our fact-checked stories here.)