Unrelated video of land dispute falsely linked to the incident of SP workers allegedly killing a Dalit girl for urging to vote for BJP in 2024 UP by-elections
A video going viral on social media (here, here, and here) shows two groups clashing violently, using sticks and bricks. The post claims that Samajwadi Party workers murdered a Dalit girl for voting BJP during the recent 2024 Karhal by-election (archive) in Uttar Pradesh. Let’s verify the truth behind the video in this article.
Claim: This video shows Samajwadi Party workers murdering a Dalit girl for voting BJP during the 2024 Karhal by-election in Uttar Pradesh.
Fact: The viral video shows a fight over a land dispute in Bhagwanpur village, Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh. On 18 November 2024, a clash broke out between two Scheduled Caste groups over a road dispute. Hanumanganj police confirmed the incident and arrested two individuals. Meanwhile, reports on the Dalit girl’s murder in Karhal, Mainpuri for allegedly urging to vote BJP in the Karhal by-election featured a different video. The viral video is unrelated to the girl’s murder in Karhal, Mainpuri. Hence, the claim made in the post is Misleading.
A reverse image search of the keyframes from the viral video led to an X post (archive) dated 25 November 2024, featuring the same video. The caption indicated that the video is from Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh. The Kushinagar Police replied to the post, stating that a case had been registered under relevant sections at Hanumanganj police station, two accused were arrested, and further legal action was underway. They also confirmed that peace and order had been maintained at the location.
Taking clues from the X post, we searched using relevant keywords and found reports (here and here) (archive here and here) published on 19 November 2024. One of the reports featured visuals from the viral video. According to these reports, the incident occurred in Bhagwanpur village, Hanumanganj police station area, near Khadda in Kushinagar district. The dispute arose between former village head Nagendra Chaudhary and Rabri Devi over a road. On 18 November 2024, the disagreement escalated into a violent clash. Although the police initially pacified both parties, the fight resumed after their departure, with both sides attacking each other using sticks, bricks, and physical blows. Around six people were injured in the altercation. Hanumanganj police registered a case against six individuals and arrested two of them.
We also contacted the Hanumanganj police station. Officials confirmed that on 18 November 2024, a fight broke out between two groups in Bhagwanpur village over a road dispute. Both groups belong to the Scheduled Caste community. A case was registered, and two individuals have been sent to jail.
However, in the process of investigating the claim that Samajwadi Party workers killed a Dalit girl for voting for the BJP during the recent Uttar Pradesh by-election, we came across a report (archive) by Aaj Tak dated 20 November 2024. The report included a video showing the victim’s body found in a sack with police at the crime scene in Karhal, Mainpuri. According to the report, the victim’s family alleged that Samajwadi Party supporter Prashant Yadav and his associates gang-raped and murdered the girl after she urged them to vote for the BJP. The accused have since been arrested and sent to jail.
To sum up, the viral video is not related to the murder of the girl allegedly for voting BJP in the 2024 Karhal by-election. Instead, it shows a fight that occurred in Kushinagar district over a land dispute.