Gandhi Statue Vandalism Falsely Attributed to Bangladesh, Actually Occurred in West Bengal

Misinformation is circulating on social media regarding a vandalized statue of Mahatma Gandhi, with numerous posts incorrectly claiming the incident took place in Bangladesh amid ongoing political tensions between India and its eastern neighbor.

The viral video and images show a decapitated Gandhi statue, which many users have shared with captions suggesting it represents growing anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh. One X (formerly Twitter) user wrote, “Sar Tan Se Juda of Gandhiji in Bangladesh. But Gandhiji’s was just a statue. The Sar (brain) Tan se juda is happening in Bangladesh society…”

However, a thorough investigation reveals the incident actually occurred in Chakulia, located in West Bengal’s Uttar Dinajpur district, on January 15, 2024—not in Bangladesh.

The statue was damaged during violent protests against Special Intensive Revision (SIR) hearings related to voter lists in the region. During these demonstrations, protesters also targeted government facilities, including ransacking the local Block Development Officer’s (BDO) office.

Multiple credible Indian news sources, including ABP Ananda and The Telegraph, covered the incident in mid-January. ABP Ananda reported on January 16 that the vandalism occurred amidst broader unrest, with the BDO office left heavily damaged with burnt debris scattered throughout the premises.

The Telegraph’s January 17 report confirmed that a bust of Mahatma Gandhi was damaged during mob violence and noted that arson at the BDO office was specifically aimed at destroying files related to the SIR of Goalpokher-II block in Chakulia, North Dinajpur.

The BJP’s West Bengal handle on X also posted about the incident on January 16, correctly identifying the location as Chakulia in West Bengal, further confirming the event took place in India rather than Bangladesh.

This misinformation emerges against a backdrop of strained relations between India and Bangladesh following a change in government in Dhaka. Sheikh Hasina, who maintained close ties with India during her tenure as Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, fled to India in August after student-led protests toppled her government. The transitional government in Bangladesh has since been navigating complex diplomatic waters with its larger neighbor.

Social media has become a breeding ground for false narratives that can potentially inflame tensions between the two countries. Such misattributed incidents risk exacerbating cultural and diplomatic tensions at a time when regional stability is already precarious.

The rapid spread of this misinformation highlights the challenges of digital literacy and fact-checking in an era where images and videos can be easily decontextualized and repurposed to support inflammatory narratives. It also underscores the importance of verifying information before sharing, particularly when it involves sensitive geopolitical relationships.

While there have been legitimate concerns about the safety of Hindu minorities and Indian interests in Bangladesh following recent political changes, this particular incident has no connection to Bangladesh and represents an internal Indian matter related to local electoral processes.

As Bangladesh continues its political transition and India monitors developments across the border, accurate reporting becomes increasingly crucial to prevent unnecessary diplomatic tensions based on falsehoods and misattributions.