Rujuta Thete/ The Quint
This incident happened at Harpalpur railway station when the train for Kumbh Mela did not open the doors on time.
(Archives of similar claims can be seen here and here.)
What’s the truth?: This incident happened at Harpalpur railway station in Uttar Pradesh when the train for Kumbh Mela did not open the doors on time.
However, there is no communal angle involved in this incident.
How did we find out the truth?: We performed a relevant keyword search on Google which led us to several reports about this incident.
- NDTV, Hindustan Times and India Today carried the same visuals as the viral one and it stated that a special train scheduled from Jhansi to Prayagraj was pelted with stones at Harpalpur station.
- It further stated that this was done by the passengers waiting on the platform who found the doors of the compartments locked on 28 January.
- The reports also mention that this act of stone pelting also shattered the glass windows of the train’s doors, which sparked panic among the passengers seated inside.
Statement from the officials: According to the reports, Railways spokesperson Manoj Singh stated how a crowd of passengers headed for Prayagraj, found the train’s doors locked when and in an agitated state created an uproar.
- We also contacted the RPF Division of Jhansi, under which Harpalpur station comes, and we were informed that this act was carried out by people waiting to board the train to attend the Kumbh Mela.
- They also clarified that no communal angle is involved in this incident.
Conclusion: A false communal angle is being given to an incident of people pelting stones at a special train arranged for Maha Kumbh mela 2025.
(The news story is republished as part of Shakti Collective)
