WebQoof Recap: Of Communal Claims and Old BBC Graphics

Here's a recap of the top five pieces of misinformation that went viral this week.

From social media users falsely claiming that Malabar Gold and Diamonds only offer scholarships to Muslim girls to an old BBC graphic of India's map shared as recent, here is a recap of some of the most viral claims from this week.

1. Fact-Check: Did Malabar Gold Award Scholarships Only to Muslim Girls? No!

A picture showing some girls wearing hijabs and holding up certificates was shared to claim that the jewellery brand Malabar Gold and Diamonds only awards scholarships to girls from the Muslim community.

However, the claim is misleading and there is no evidence to prove that it given to only those from the Muslim community.

While the details of the scholarship mentioned that it was "exclusively for girl students," it doesn't mention religion as a criteria.

Read our full story here.

2. Did the BBC Use The Wrong Map of India in a Recent Report? No!

A screenshot of a BBC article showing India's map without Jammu and Kashmir went viral on the internet with people demanding a "ban" on the broadcaster.

Sudarshan News' Editor-in-Chief Suresh Chavhanke and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Sadhvi Prachi, among others, shared the claim.

While the channel did use the wrong map, we found that the graphic seen in the claims was from a video story published in 2015, which is no longer available for viewing.

Read our fact-check here.

3. Video of Men Brutally Assaulting a Girl Shared With False Caste Angle

People on social media shared a distressing video of a group of men brutally thrashing a woman claiming that it showed some Hindu men beating a Dalit woman. Some users also claimed that the video is from Uttar Pradesh.

However, we found that the incident was from Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district and had no caste angle to it. The video dated back to July 2021, and the girl was beaten by her relatives for talking to boys.

The Quint reached out to Kukshi Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDOP) Dilip Singh Bilwal who confirmed these details and said that the incident had no caste angle.

Read our full story here.

4. No, The Image Doesn't Show an Indian Fan Supporting Pakistan Cricket Captain Babar Azam

A picture of an Indian fan holding a placard in support of Pakistan cricket team captain Babar Azam was shared to claim that the fan was attending the India vs New Zealand T20I match that happened on 27 January in Ranchi.

However, we found that the image was altered. The original picture dated back to 2018 and showed the names of former cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni on the placard.

Read our fact-check here.

5. Video Shows Visuals From a Bhim Army Protest? No, It Is From Argentina

A clip of a huge crowd gathered on the streets was shared linking it to the Bhim Army, with several users requesting others to join a demonstration in Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal on 12 February. The video was shared using hashtags such as #JaiBhim and #Bhimarmy.

However, we found that the video was from December 2022 when large number of fans gathered on the streets of Buenos Aires to celebrate Argentina's FIFA victory.

Read our fact-check here.

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