Fact Check: Video Falsely Depicts Muslims Being Labeled ‘Bangladeshi’ in Post-Election Bengal; Footage Actually Shows Verification Drive in UP

In a climate of heightened social tension following the 2026 West Bengal State Assembly Elections, a misleading video has been widely circulated on social media platforms, falsely depicting alleged religious persecution in the state.

The video, which shows police officers questioning individuals about their nationality, has been shared with claims that it depicts authorities targeting and removing Muslims and Christians from West Bengal by labeling them as “Bangladeshi immigrants” in the aftermath of the BJP’s electoral victory.

“After BJP win elections in West Bengal, CRPF and Police are going to each Muslim Christian house in West Bengal removing them labelling them as ‘Bangladeshi Immigrants’. This is human rights violations minorities of India have to suffer daily,” read one viral post on X (formerly Twitter).

The circulation of the video comes at a sensitive time, as West Bengal has indeed experienced post-election violence following the BJP’s win. Various districts have reported clashes between supporters of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and BJP, with additional allegations of Muslim-owned businesses being forced to close or change their names.

However, a fact-check investigation by NewsMeter has conclusively determined that the video has no connection to recent events in West Bengal. The footage actually shows Uttar Pradesh Police conducting a verification drive in Ghaziabad, near Delhi, in December 2025 – months before the West Bengal elections.

The original video was published by NDTV on January 2, 2026, titled “UP Cop ‘Scans’ Man With Mobile Phone, Calls Him Bangladeshi: Video Viral.” The verification operation took place in the Bhowapur slum area, which contains approximately 50 shanties.

The Times of India reported that the controversial verification checks occurred on December 23, 2025. The police action drew significant criticism after officers were seen using a device by touching it to people’s backs, claiming it could identify their nationality. When questioned about these unusual tactics, Ajay Sharma, Station House Officer (SHO) of Kaushambi police station who led the operation, defended his actions, stating he had “tried to put pressure on them so that they reveal their true identity.”

The repurposing of this video to suggest targeted religious persecution in West Bengal represents a dangerous trend of misinformation that can potentially inflame communal tensions during an already volatile political transition. Such misleading content exploits genuine concerns about post-election violence to advance a false narrative.

India has historically grappled with the complex issue of immigration from neighboring Bangladesh, with the question of citizenship and nationality often becoming politically charged, particularly during and after elections. West Bengal, sharing a porous border with Bangladesh, has frequently been at the center of these debates.

The spread of this misinformation highlights the ongoing challenges that social media platforms and fact-checkers face in combating false information, especially during politically sensitive periods when the potential for communal discord is heightened.

As political transitions continue in West Bengal, the importance of verifying information before sharing becomes increasingly critical to prevent the escalation of tensions based on fabricated or misrepresented incidents.