CLAIM
A video showing a women violently beating a child has gone viral on social media. In the video, the girl is heard pleading for mercy while the woman continues to beat the child mercilessly.
But, now the video is being shared with multiple wrong claims on both Indian and Pakistani social media.
Pakistani-Canadian journalist Tarek Fatah, who has been caught peddling incorrect information in the past multiple times, claimed that the video was from Pakistan and that such severe beating is normal among Punjabi families.
Fatah tweeted the a caption that reads, “WARNING - Child Physical Abuse Cruel Pakistani mother inflicts severe beating on her daughter. This is the fate of countless children in a practice seen as normative among most Punjabi families.”
Another user claimed that the incident was from Maraghzar Colony in Lahore. The caption read, “The baby girl lived in marghzar colony Lahore...Her step mother is beating everyday...plz make a voice for her...in another case like many other child's we are weeping when she is not is world (sic).”
TRUE OR FALSE?
The claim that the incident took place in Pakistan is false. The video is from Jammu and Kashmir’s Nagri area in Kathua district. Speaking to The Quint, an official in Kathua police confirmed that the matter is under investigation and the woman (in the video) has been arrested.
WHAT WE FOUND
On searching for the video online, we came across a video uploaded by a channel called ‘State Times’ which had reported on the incident. According to this report the incident had taken place in the Kathua district.
The report also carried the police version in which a cop can be heard saying that the police has taken cognisance of the matter and the matter is under investigation. He also added that a complaint has been filed by the Child Welfare Committee.
Speaking to The Quint, a police officer on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the matter has been registered and the woman seen in the video has been arrested. He also added that the girl’s father has also been detained.
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