A video going viral on social media (here, here, and here) shows visuals of demolished settlements, claimed to be recent footage from Maharajganj, Bahraich. The post alleges that it depicts ‘bulldozer justice’ by the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government, supposedly in retaliation for Ram Gopal Mishra’s killing during communal violence in the town. Let’s verify the claim through this article.
Claim: A video shows demolished buildings in Maharajganj, Bahraich, targeting the main accused’s property in revenge for Ram Gopal Mishra’s killing in October 2024.
Fact: The viral video shows a court-ordered anti-encroachment drive in Fakharpur, Bahraich, on 25 September 2024, where illegal constructions in Sarai Jagna village were demolished by a bulldozer following a High Court order from May 2023. This demolition video is unrelated to the recent incident in Maharajganj involving the killing of Ram Gopal Mishra during communal violence. Meanwhile, the Allahabad High Court granted a 15-day extension to the accused individuals in Bahraich to respond to demolition notices from the Uttar Pradesh government. Hence, the claim made in the post is FALSE.
A reverse image search of keyframes from the viral video led us to a similar video uploaded on Facebook on 26 September 2024, claiming the visuals were from Wazirganj, Uttar Pradesh.
Taking a clue from the description of the Facebook post a Google keyword search led us to multiple media reports (here, here, and here). According to these reports, on 25 September 2024, illegal constructions on government land in Sarai Jagna village, under Fakharpur police station in Bahraich district, were demolished using a bulldozer. The action targeted 23 houses and was carried out based on a High Court order issued in May 2023.
We also found that the official X account of Bahraich Police dismissed the viral claim, stating that the visuals are from a court-ordered anti-encroachment drive in the Fakharpur area of Bahraich district on 25 September 2024, and not related to the recent incident in Maharajganj. The post further warned that legal action would be taken against those spreading misleading information and disturbing harmony.
However, the Allahabad High Court granted a 15-day extension for accused individuals in Bahraich to respond to demolition notices from the Uttar Pradesh government, following recent violence in the area. The court emphasized the need for due process and fairness in addressing the government’s actions against illegal constructions.
To sum up, the video of the bulldozer action predates the Bahraich violence and is unrelated to the accused in Ram Gopal Mishra’s murder.
