Viral Video of Mob Violence is from Punjab, Not Bangladesh

New Delhi, January 6, 2026: A visually disturbing video has been widely circulated on social media platforms, including Facebook and X, with the false claim that it depicts a Hindu man being brutally assaulted by a mob in Bangladesh. In the footage, a man dressed in saffron robes is observed being surrounded and thrashed with sticks by an angry crowd. These posts, which gained traction in early January 2026, were often accompanied by hashtags such as #HinduLivesMatter and #SaveBangladeshiHindus, aimed at stoking communal tensions by linking the incident to recent unrest in the neighboring country.

Investigation Traces Footage to Hoshiarpur

The claims have been thoroughly debunked through digital forensic investigations conducted by major fact-checking agencies. By utilizing reverse image search tools, the original context of the video was traced back to Punjab, India. It was discovered that the incident actually took place at the Tanda Urmar railway station in the Hoshiarpur district. The footage was first uploaded to digital platforms in late 2025, confirming that it predates the current timeline being suggested by social media users.

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The Reality of the Incident: A Case of Mistaken Identity

The man featured in the video was not a victim of religious persecution, but rather an individual suspected by locals of being a child abductor. It was reported by local journalists that the man, who was dressed as a monk, was apprehended by a mob on the railway platform following rumors of an attempted kidnapping in the area. While the assault was indeed violent, it was confirmed by the Punjab Police that the incident was entirely local in nature and had no connection to any international or communal conflict.

The Anatomy of a False Narrative

Experts have pointed out that this incident is a classic example of “location-swapping,” where real footage of violence is repurposed with a fake caption to serve a specific political or communal agenda. As Bangladesh witnessed fresh unrest following parliamentary elections, old and unrelated videos from India were observed being “weaponized” to mislead the public. It was remarked by digital analysts that the saffron attire of the man in the video was intentionally used to craft a narrative of religious targeting, despite the lack of any supporting evidence.

A Call for Responsible Sharing in 2026

As of January 6, 2026, authorities and fact-checkers have urged citizens to verify the source of dramatic videos before hitting the share button. It was stated that the spread of such misinformation not only causes unnecessary panic but also tarnishes the image of local law enforcement. The public is encouraged to rely on verified news outlets and official police statements to avoid falling prey to the “misinformation minefield” that often surrounds sensitive international issues. The truth remains that the “Bangladesh assault” video is, in fact, a documented case of vigilante justice from a railway station in Punjab.