A video is being widely shared on social media in which army personnel are seen aiming guns at people sloganeering in an open field.
The video is shared with a caption suggesting that it shows BSF shooting at those who came to block the fence at the border of India-Bangladesh as a warning.
A social media user shared the video with a caption that reads, “First shot below the knee....... Bangladesh. BSF’s warning to those who came to build fences at the border... If it comes again, the chest will be pierced... If Bangladesh can’t keep its own people in a stand, India knows how to keep them in a stand ...... "
SouthCheck found that the claim is false. The video is old and is from a mock drill conducted by the army before the elections in Nepal.
On a Google reverse image search, we found that the same video was shared by the Facebook page of District Police Office, Tanahu, Nepal, on February 9.
The caption stated that it is of a joint mock voting exercise that was conducted on Magh 26 in Tanahun district ahead of the House of Representatives election scheduled for Falgun 21, 2082 (Nepali calendar). The drill, held at Patan Playground in Byas Municipality-5, involved election officials, district administration, police, the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, and intelligence agencies to test voting procedures and prepare for potential security challenges at polling stations.
The screenshot of the video was also shared by a Nepali website on February 9.
According to the report, ahead of Nepal’s House of Representatives election in March, security agencies conducted a mock drill in Tanahun to demonstrate how police, armed police, and the army would coordinate to prevent unrest and ensure peaceful voting. The exercise also included crowd-control scenarios, emergency response measures, and a mock voting demonstration to strengthen election preparedness.
We found that the video was also shared by ATV News, a Nepali news website. The caption suggests that it was preparation for the election. The caption reads, “Preparation for election intensifies, army soldiers continue rehearsal. Security agencies are reported to be on high alert to conclude the election peacefully and fairly.”
What is happening in West Bengal?
West Bengal’s BJP government, led by Suvendu Adhikari, has launched a ‘detect, delete and deport’ drive targeting illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and Rohingyas. The state has set up holding centres across districts, detained hundreds of suspected undocumented migrants and begun deportation procedures in coordination with border authorities. The government says the move is aimed at strengthening border security and removing illegal residents from official records.
While the government of West Bengal is focusing on deporting illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, we can ascertain that the viral video is old and unrelated.
