Rahul Gandhi’s most recent protest was on Monday, October 12, when he led an INDIA bloc “March for Democracy” in Central Delhi toward the Supreme Court against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Thousands of Congress and INDIA bloc supporters gathered near Barakhamba Road/Connaught Place and marched toward the Supreme Court, with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other opposition leaders present. Police barricades stopped the march on Bhagwan Das Road, though Gandhi and other leaders later reached the Supreme Court to file a petition.
In the above context, a video has gone viral on social media in which a crowd is seen running on the road while sounds of gunfire can be heard in the background.
The video is shared with a caption suggesting that it shows police firing a gun at the protestors who came to participate in Rahul Gandhi’s rally.
A social media user shared the video with a caption that reads, “Rahul Gandhi Under Attack. Delhi Police opened fire on Rahul Gandhi’s protest rally today, killing 5 workers. #Delhi Police fired directly at Rahul Gandhi. The situation is deteriorating, and tensions are escalating. Come out, Indians and Block Delhi.”
SouthCheck found that the claim is false. The viral video is from 2020 and is from the Delhi riots.
On Google reverse image search, we found that the screenshot of the video was shared by Dainik Bhaskar seven years ago. The report suggested that during the February 24, 2020, Northeast Delhi riots, DCP Amit Sharma and ACP Anuj Kumar were surrounded by rioters near Chand Bagh while trying to control the violence.
The mob attacked them with stones, lathis, and other weapons. Sharma was seriously injured and fell unconscious, while Kumar suffered a head injury while rescuing him. Head Constable Ratan Lal was shot dead, and over 60 police personnel were injured.
The video was also shared by The Times of India on March 6, 2020.
The report associated with the video suggested that it shows a mob of more than 2,000 anti-CAA protesters targeting heavily outnumbered police personnel, pelting them with stones and reportedly opening fire.
The officers, trapped near the divider, struggled to escape the violence.
Head Constable Ratan Lal was shot dead in the attack, while DCP Amit Sharma was critically injured. ACP Anuj Kumar and at least a dozen other policemen were also hurt.
The incident was also reported by several media outlets.
Hence, we can ascertain that the viral claim is false.
