By Abhishek Kumar

A video is viral on social media where a group of people dressed as sadhus are seen seated on the ground while the individual behind the camera asks their names. In response, they mention their names as Sunil, Gopi and Gaurav. While sharing this video, it is being claimed that three people were going around in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh dressed as sadhus, and were caught by locals who believed them to be child-lifters. Following this, the video of these sadhus being beaten also came to light. Several people shared it on social media and claimed that these were a group of Muslims posing as sadhus.

https://x.com/NetaClix/status/1812452246447063107?t=Rua-MqKAZRUKpUbkK5sSdA&s=19

Sudarshan News shared the video and claimed that the public caught the trio in Meerut while they were roaming around dressed in sadhu’s attire. It also claimed that one of them had an Aadhar card in the name of Mohd. Shamim. (Archived link)

https://x.com/SudarshanNewsUp/status/1812037579237101597?t=2H3L9Xu2v9T8yhRewtdzsw&s=19

Ajay Chauhan, a handle which regularly shares misinformation, amplified the video and claimed that the people being beaten were Bangladeshis who were asking for donations for the temple in the guise of sadhus. (Archived link)

Rajat Mishra of Sudarshan News also shared the video on X and identified the individuals as Mohammad Shamim and his gang. In addition, Sagar Kumar of the same outlet quoted it and wrote that Mohammad Shamid used to perform recces of the same locality wearing saffron attire along with his gang.

Fact Check

Alt News examined the official X handle of Meerut Police and found a statement from them in this matter. Responding to Sudarshan News, Meerut Police said that after its personnel reached the scene, the three sadhus were brought to the police station. Upon being interrogated, it was found that all three were sadhus of the Nath sect from Yamunanagar, Haryana, who had been asking for alms. In other words, the group was neither Muslim nor Bangladeshi.

Read Full Story https://www.altnews.in/up-meerut-sadhus-thrashed-suspicion-of-being-child-kidnappers-video-viral-with-false-muslim-angle/