A video is being widely shared on social media in which the police are seen removing a green flag from a tree. The video is being shared with the claim that it shows Karnataka police removing a Muslim League flag.
A social media user shared the video with a caption that reads, “League needs permission from Karnataka to build a green corner.” (Translated from Malayalam)
SouthCheck found that the claim is false. The police were removing an Islamic flag placed on the Ganapati floor in connection with Eid in Moodibidri, Karnataka.
We closely observed the viral video and found that the green flag seen has a large crescent and a star in the centre. We compared the flag with the flag of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a Muslim political party primarily based in Kerala. We found that the crescent and star in it are in the top left corner. Also, in the IUML flag, the crescent moon is only on one side, while in the viral video, it is on both sides.
On a Google reverse image search, we found that a screenshot of the video was shared by News First Live on October 6, 2023.
According to the news report, the video shows a green flag hoisted at the Ganapati katte in Pucchemogeru, Moodbidri taluk, on Eid-Milan. The district inspector swiftly removed the flag and reprimanded the local PDO for negligence—highlighting the absence of permission and potential communal tensions.
The video was also reported by Headline Karnataka on October 6, 2023.
According to the report, in Pucchemogeru (in Moodbidri taluk), a green flag was hoisted at a ‘ganapati katte’ tree structure during an Eid-Milad procession. Locals complained that the flag was not removed by the village PDO, prompting Sandesh PG (the circle inspector) to summon and publicly reprimand the official.
The incident was also reported by Vijay Vani.
Hence, we can ascertain that the claim is false.
