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As tensions build ahead of West Bengal’s two-phase Assembly elections later this month, a misleading video has gained traction across social media platforms, falsely depicting security operations in the state.
The video, which shows armed personnel forcibly detaining several men amid a chaotic public scene, has been widely shared with captions claiming it demonstrates the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) taking action against “miscreants” in West Bengal ahead of the upcoming polls scheduled for April 23 and 29.
“The atmosphere has changed in Bengal with the entry of CRPF. The miscreants are being dug out from the ground. No more talks now, straight-up tough action has begun,” read several posts accompanying the video on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
However, a thorough investigation by NewsMeter reveals the footage has no connection to West Bengal or any current security operations in India. The video actually originates from Bangladesh and documents events that occurred in January following political unrest in the neighboring country.
Through reverse image searches of key frames from the video, fact-checkers identified the original source as News 21 Bangla TV, which published the footage on Facebook on January 11. According to the original caption, the video shows Bangladeshi army personnel confronting protesters who had blocked a road in Panchagarh district during demonstrations following the death of activist Sharif Osman Hadi.
Hadi, a prominent Bangladeshi youth leader, was shot by unidentified assailants in Dhaka on December 12, 2025. He subsequently died six days later while receiving medical treatment in Singapore. His death triggered widespread protests across Bangladesh, with thousands taking to the streets demanding justice.
The incident captured in the video represents one such protest. According to local publication Dainik Lokalay, students in Panchagarh held a rally demanding justice for Hadi’s killing before blocking a major highway, causing significant traffic disruptions. The army reportedly intervened, resulting in a confrontation that left at least 23 people injured. Multiple Bangladeshi news sources covered the incident, confirming the context and location.
The false attribution of the video comes at a sensitive time for West Bengal, where electoral security has been a significant concern in past elections. The Election Commission of India typically deploys central forces, including CRPF personnel, to ensure peaceful polling in areas deemed sensitive or prone to violence.
Misinformation surrounding security operations can potentially inflame tensions in a state with a history of political violence during election periods. The CRPF, which serves as India’s largest central armed police force, is routinely deployed across states during elections to supplement local police and ensure neutral enforcement of electoral rules.
This is not the first instance of foreign footage being misrepresented as Indian electoral developments. Fact-checking organizations have noted an increase in such misleading content as elections approach, with social media users and sometimes political activists repurposing unrelated videos to support particular narratives.
The West Bengal Assembly elections remain a closely watched contest, with security arrangements and the conduct of central forces likely to remain under scrutiny throughout the electoral process. As polling dates draw closer, authorities have urged voters to verify information from official sources and remain vigilant against misleading content circulating online.
Election officials have not commented specifically on this particular piece of misinformation, but the Election Commission regularly issues advisories against spreading unverified content that could disrupt the electoral process or mislead voters.
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10 Comments
This is a good reminder of the importance of critical thinking and fact-checking, especially when it comes to sensitive political issues. It’s easy for misinformation to spread quickly on social media, so it’s crucial to verify the source and context of any claims or videos before sharing them.
Well said. Fact-checking is essential to maintaining the integrity of public discourse, especially around important political events. Kudos to the fact-checkers for taking the time to properly investigate the origins of this video.
This is a good example of how social media can be used to spread misinformation, even unintentionally. It’s important to be cautious about the origin and accuracy of videos and claims, especially around sensitive political issues. Fact-checking is essential.
Absolutely. Verifying information before sharing it is crucial, especially on social media where misinformation can spread rapidly. Kudos to the fact-checkers for taking the time to properly investigate the source and context of this video.
It’s concerning to see how quickly misinformation can spread on social media, even around sensitive political topics. I’m glad the fact-checkers were able to trace the origins of this video and clarify that it’s from Bangladesh, not West Bengal. Verifying the accuracy of claims is so important, especially during election periods.
Absolutely. Fact-checking is essential to preventing the spread of misinformation and maintaining the integrity of public discourse. It’s encouraging to see the diligence of the fact-checkers in this case.
This highlights the need for vigilance when it comes to online content, particularly around political issues. It’s important to verify the accuracy of claims and the source of videos before sharing them, to prevent the spread of misinformation. Fact-checking is a crucial part of maintaining the integrity of public discourse.
Interesting fact check. It’s important to verify the accuracy of such claims, especially during sensitive political periods. This video seems to be from Bangladesh, not West Bengal as initially reported. Fact-checking is crucial to prevent the spread of misinformation.
Agreed. Verifying the source and context of this video is the responsible thing to do. Spreading unconfirmed claims could lead to unnecessary tensions, so I’m glad the facts were clarified.
It’s concerning to see how quickly unverified claims can gain traction on social media. I’m glad the facts were clarified in this case, showing the video is from Bangladesh, not West Bengal. Fact-checking is important to prevent the spread of misinformation, particularly around political events.