The Uttar Pradesh Police has launched a robust crackdown on social media users spreading fake videos and misleading news that attempt to defame the ongoing Maha Kumbh 2025.
The state police took swift action under the instructions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, monitoring social media platforms 24/7 and filing FIRs against 54 social media accounts involved in spreading false information.
Maha Kumbh: False Videos Spread On Social Media
On February 13, 2025, police detected two misleading videos circulating online. The first video falsely claimed that a massive fire had broken out at the Maha Kumbh bus stand, allegedly burning 40-50 vehicles. However, investigations revealed that the video was from a 2020 oil pipeline accident in Egypt. The police have filed an FIR against seven social media accounts for spreading this misinformation.
The second video falsely linked a chaotic incident at a film production in Patna to the Maha Kumbh, claiming that “nationalist people threw slippers at army jawans.” The footage, in reality, was unrelated to the religious gathering. Police have identified 15 social media accounts responsible for sharing the false narrative and have taken legal action against them.
Identifying Misleading Accounts
The police have listed the accounts responsible for sharing false information related to both incidents:
Accounts Linking The Egypt Fire Incident To Maha Kumbh:
- India With Congress (@UWCforYouth) – X (Twitter)
- Harindra Kumar Rao (@kumar.harindra.rao) – Instagram
- Anil Patel (@_1_4_3_anil_patel) – Instagram
- Vishal Babu (@a.v.r_rider_0) – Instagram
- Nemi Chand (@nemichand.kumawat.2022) – Instagram
- Sifa Bhadoriya (@bhadoriya6285) – Instagram
- Hello Prayagraj (@Hello_Prayagraj) – YouTube
Accounts Linking The Patna Incident To Maha Kumbh:
- Inderjeet Barak (@inderjeetbarak) – X (Twitter)
- SUNIL (@sunil1997_) – X (Twitter)
- Nihal Shaikh (@mr_nihal_sheikh) – X (Twitter)
- Dimpi (@Dimpi77806999) – X (Twitter)
- Sat Sewa (@lalitjawla76) – X (Twitter)
- Sandesh Vatak News (@Sandeshvataksv) – X (Twitter)
- Lokesh Meena (@LOKESHMEEN46402) – X (Twitter)
- Raj Singh Chaudhary (@RajSingh_Jakhar) – X (Twitter)
- Yunus Alam – Facebook
- Aminuddin Siddiqui – Facebook
- Arvind Singh Yadav Ahirwal – Facebook
- Shivam Kumar Kushwaha – Facebook
- Jain Renu – Facebook
- Amit Kumar II – Facebook
- Mehtar Ek Yoddha Ballia – Facebook
Recent Actions Against Misinformation
The UP Police has taken several significant actions over the past month to counter misinformation aimed at tarnishing the image of Maha Kumbh 2025:
- January 13, 2025: A Twitter user posted a video of a mock fire drill, falsely claiming it was an actual fire incident at the Maha Kumbh.
- February 2, 2025: Seven accounts were penalized for circulating an old video from Nepal, misrepresenting it as a stampede at the Maha Kumbh.
- February 7, 2025: An FIR was filed against a Facebook account spreading false claims about a stampede in the Sangam area.
- February 9, 2025: Fourteen Twitter accounts were penalized for connecting an incident in Dhanbad, Jharkhand, to Maha Kumbh.
- February 12, 2025: Seven accounts were taken to task for spreading images of dead bodies found in Ghazipur (2021), falsely claiming they were from Maha Kumbh.
Ongoing Efforts to Safeguard Maha Kumbh’s Integrity
Under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s direction, the UP Police has implemented a comprehensive strategy to safeguard the integrity of Maha Kumbh 2025.
A dedicated cyber-patrolling team is constantly monitoring social media platforms, quickly identifying and addressing false posts. The police are registering FIRs against individuals spreading rumors and working with social media professionals to combat misinformation effectively.
Uttar Pradesh’s Director General of Police, Prashant Kumar, urged the public to verify the authenticity of information before sharing it on social media.
He emphasized that the authorities would take strict legal action against those found guilty of spreading rumors. The police remain determined to preserve the sanctity and spirit of the Maha Kumbh Mela and ensure it continues to be a revered spiritual and cultural event.
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