Maha Kumbh: 34 social media accounts booked for sharing video with false claim

Police in Maha Kumbh Nagar registered cases against 34 social media accounts for allegedly disseminating a misleading video. The video falsely claimed that 300 individuals perished in a train fire en route to the Maha Kumbh on 14 February.

Upon investigation, authorities determined that the footage originated from a 2022 incident in Bangladesh, where the Parbat Express train caught fire on the Dhaka-Sylhet railway line.

Since the commencement of the Maha Kumbh Mela, law enforcement has initiated 12 cases against a total of 171 social media accounts for allegedly spreading misleading information related to the event, the Hindustan Times reported.

Authorities have urged the public to rely solely on official sources for updates and to refrain from sharing unverified content.

In a related development, police have also registered FIRs against 17 social media accounts for posting objectionable videos of women bathers at the Maha Kumbh, emphasising the importance of respecting privacy and maintaining the dignity of participants.

Investigation revealed that the video was from a 2022 train accident in Bangladesh, in which the Parbat Express caught fire on the Dhaka-Sylhet railway line, police said.

A case has been registered against 34 social media accounts under relevant sections, they added.

Since the beginning of the Maha Kumbh Mela, police have registered 12 cases, including this FIR, against 171 social media accounts for allegedly spreading misleading propaganda by posting false videos and photos related to the event, police said.

With PTI inputs