(Warning: This article contains visuals and discussions on violence that some readers may find disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.)
A video is being widely shared on social media in which police personnel are seen beating a man in a hospital.
The video is shared with a caption suggesting that the viral video is from Kerala, where a father was beaten by the police in front of the body of his dead son.
A social media user shared the video with a caption that reads, “Did you see the police brutality towards the father even when his own son was lying dead in the hospital? They were not even willing to consider his current mental state. Will Kerala become another Bengal?” (Translated from Malayalam)
SouthCheck found that the claim is false. The video is from Gujarat, not Kerala.
On a Google reverse image search, we found that the same video was shared by Times Now in an Instagram post, dated June 5, with a caption that reads, “A video from Patdi Hospital, Gujarat, captures police assaulting relatives of a deceased patient whose death was reportedly caused by a shortage of doctors. The disturbing footage prompted authorities to call for a thorough investigation. DIG Pandya has ordered a probe to ensure accountability and strict action against those responsible in this alarming incident.”
Moreover, the Kerala State Police had also shared a post on Facebook suggesting that the viral video was not from Kerala.
The post read, “The video circulating in the name of Kerala Police is not Kerala Police; it is Gujarat Police.” Further, it warned that action will be taken against those spreading the fake news.
ETV Bharat also reported on the incident on June 4.
According to the report, the video is from Patdi Government Hospital in Gujarat’s Surendranagar district and shows grieving relatives protesting a patient’s death, reportedly caused by no doctor being available. In the shocking incident, the police officers are seen slapping, kicking and dragging a mourner beside the body. The report further stated that a formal investigation has now been ordered.
The report also shared a screenshot of the viral video.
The incident was also reported by The Lallantop YouTube channel on June 6. The claim is false.