In Bodh Gaya, Bihar, Buddhist monks have been protesting since February 12, demanding exclusive administrative control over the Mahabodhi Temple, challenging the current management structure dominated by non-Buddhists.
Against the backdrop of the above incident, a video is being widely shared on social media in which men in tactical uniform are seen kicking a Buddhist monk. The video is shared with a caption suggesting that the video is of Bihar, where monks are being beaten by the police for protesting.
A social media user shared the video with the caption, “Strict action should be taken against those who kick Buddhist monks like this.” (Translated from Hindi)
SouthCheck found that the claim is false. The viral video is old.
On a Google reverse image search, we found the same video uploaded to YouTube on April 7, 2024, with a title that reads, ‘Police abused Buddhist monk in Bhadrakali on Saturday.’
We also found the video shared by a Facebook page, Laligurash Media Network, in a news report on April 8, 2024.
We found another YouTube channel called Sagarmatha TV that published the report of police kicking a Buddhist monk in Kathmandu, Nepal, on April 7, 2024.
We found that a screenshot of the video was also shared by a Nepali news organisation, Khabar Dabali. The report was published on April 9, 2024. The report suggested that during a protest led by Rajendra Mahato’s Rashtriya Kranti Abhiyan in Bhadrakali, Nepal, a Buddhist monk was kicked by a police officer, leading to widespread criticism. The Nepal Police Headquarters announced departmental action against the involved officer.
Therefore, we conclude that the viral claim is false and is not from Bihar.
