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In a disturbing incident that highlights growing political tensions in West Bengal, a statue of Mahatma Gandhi was decapitated during violent protests in the state’s Uttar Dinajpur district. The vandalism, which occurred in mid-January, has been misrepresented on social media as having taken place in Bangladesh amid diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
The damaged statue, located in Chakulia, became the target of vandals during protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Images showing the decapitated bust with the head placed nearby quickly spread across social media platforms, accompanied by inflammatory captions falsely attributing the incident to Bangladesh.
One Facebook post erroneously claimed: “Welcome to Bangladesh, Bapu,” before launching into a politically charged commentary about Gandhi’s historical relationship with the Muslim community. The post concluded with remarks suggesting Bangladeshis were responsible for the vandalism, using the acronym “STSJ” (Sar Tan Se Juda) – a threatening slogan that translates to “head separated from body.”
Investigation by India Today’s Fact Check team revealed the truth behind the incident. The viral image, which featured the logo of DCB News, was traced back to a video posted on YouTube by the news outlet on January 16. The original caption, written in Bengali, clearly stated: “Gandhi’s statue was broken in Bengal in the name of protest.”
Further corroboration came from ABP News, which published a report featuring photographs of the vandalized statue from different angles, confirming the location as Chakulia in West Bengal’s Uttar Dinajpur district.
According to The Telegraph, the violence erupted on January 15 at the block development officer’s office in the Goalpokhar-II block in Chakulia. Approximately 300 protesters stormed the government facility after allegations that some residents were summoned for a “second hearing” during the SIR process – a procedure related to electoral roll verification that has become contentious in parts of West Bengal.
The mob didn’t limit their destruction to Gandhi’s statue. They ransacked office rooms, set documents and furniture ablaze, causing extensive damage to government property. Local authorities responded swiftly, with 21 arrests made by January 16, according to news reports. Bengali news channel KTV broadcast footage of the vandalized BDO office, showing the scale of destruction.
This incident occurs against a backdrop of political sensitivity surrounding electoral processes in West Bengal, where allegations of voter list manipulation have fueled tensions between political parties. The SIR process, intended to verify and update voter lists, has become a flashpoint for protests in several districts.
The misattribution of the incident to Bangladesh comes at a particularly delicate time in India-Bangladesh relations. Following political changes in Bangladesh and various diplomatic issues, social media has become rife with misinformation attempting to inflame tensions between the neighboring countries.
No credible reports exist of Gandhi statues being recently vandalized in Bangladesh, confirming that the viral claim is demonstrably false. The incident instead represents an unfortunate manifestation of local political tensions within West Bengal itself.
The vandalism of the Gandhi statue – regardless of location – carries symbolic weight, as attacks on representations of the independence leader and proponent of non-violence often generate strong emotional responses across the Indian subcontinent, where his legacy remains both influential and occasionally contested.
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17 Comments
It’s disheartening to see such a revered figure as Gandhi become the target of vandalism and political rhetoric. I’m glad the Fact Check team was able to uncover the true origin of the incident and provide clarity on the situation. Responsible and accurate reporting is crucial in these sensitive times.
This is a troubling incident that highlights the ongoing political tensions in the region. I hope the authorities are able to identify and hold accountable those responsible for the destruction of the Gandhi statue, and that the truth of the matter is widely disseminated to prevent further escalation.
The vandalism of Gandhi’s statue is a troubling incident that highlights the ongoing political tensions in the region. I hope the perpetrators are held accountable and that this does not lead to further escalation of conflict. Responsible reporting and fact-checking are essential in these sensitive situations.
While the decapitation of Gandhi’s statue is concerning, I’m relieved to learn that the incident did not actually occur in Bangladesh as originally claimed. Spreading misinformation can escalate tensions and lead to further unrest, so I’m glad the facts have been clarified.
This is a sobering reminder of the importance of verifying information and not jumping to conclusions, especially on sensitive political matters. I’m glad the authorities are investigating the incident and that the truth has been brought to light. Maintaining objectivity is crucial in these volatile situations.
The decapitation of Gandhi’s statue is a deeply disturbing act, but I’m glad the Fact Check team was able to clarify the true origin of the incident. Spreading misinformation can have serious consequences, so it’s crucial that the facts are reported accurately.
While the vandalism of Gandhi’s statue is concerning, I’m relieved to learn that the incident did not actually occur in Bangladesh as initially claimed. Maintaining objectivity and fact-based reporting is essential, especially on sensitive political issues like this one.
This is a disturbing incident that highlights growing political tensions in West Bengal. While the vandalism of Gandhi’s statue is unacceptable, I’m glad the facts have been checked and the truth revealed. Spreading misinformation and false attributions is only going to inflame tensions further.
I agree, it’s crucial that the facts are reported accurately, rather than fueling further division and unrest. Responsible journalism is important in these sensitive situations.
This incident is a stark reminder of the importance of verifying information and not jumping to conclusions, especially on sensitive political issues. I’m glad the Fact Check team was able to uncover the true origin of the vandalism.
The decapitation of Gandhi’s statue is a disturbing act that should be condemned. I’m relieved to learn that the incident did not actually occur in Bangladesh, as that would have only further inflamed tensions between the two nations. Fact-checking and responsible reporting are essential in these situations.
The vandalism of Gandhi’s statue is undoubtedly a serious issue, but I’m glad to see that the authorities are investigating the incident and that the truth has been brought to light. Maintaining objectivity and accuracy is crucial, especially in volatile political situations.
This is a sobering reminder of the importance of fact-checking and not jumping to conclusions, especially on sensitive political matters. While the destruction of the Gandhi statue is concerning, I’m glad the Fact Check team was able to uncover the true origin of the incident.
It’s unfortunate to see such a revered historical figure become the target of vandalism and political rhetoric. I hope the authorities are able to hold the perpetrators accountable and that this incident does not further inflame tensions in the region.
While the destruction of Gandhi’s statue is deeply concerning, I’m glad the Fact Check team was able to clarify the true origin of the incident. Spreading misinformation can have serious consequences, so it’s crucial that the facts are reported accurately, especially on sensitive political issues.
It’s disappointing to see such a revered figure as Gandhi become the target of vandalism and political rhetoric. I hope the authorities are able to identify and hold accountable those responsible for the destruction of the statue.
Absolutely. Gandhi’s legacy of non-violence and peaceful protest should be honored, not desecrated. The perpetrators need to be brought to justice.