A viral video from Gorakhpur showing a man in a police uniform allegedly being beaten with a shoe by a person dressed like an advocate has been found to be staged, according to police. The incident had triggered discussion among police and members of the legal community after the video showed a man in a police uniform riding a motorcycle and another youth, dressed like an advocate, arguing with him.
The incident relates to the Shahpur police station area of Gorakhpur. A video lasting about 2 minutes and 55 seconds went viral on social media on Sunday. It showed a motorcycle-borne man in a police uniform being confronted by a youth wearing a black waistcoat and white shirt. The argument escalated into a physical altercation, with the youth appearing to hit the uniformed man with a shoe. Some people standing nearby were also seen intervening.
The video showed the youth questioning the alleged sub-inspector about why his father had been taken to the police station. The uniformed man responded that the father had been taken to the station because the youth was not found at home. The conversation then escalated into an altercation on the road.
The video also contained dialogues intended to make the incident appear genuine, including references to calling an MP and getting the alleged police officer transferred. At one point, there was also a reference to recording the video. These elements led viewers to believe that an actual dispute between a police officer and an advocate had taken place, after which the video was widely shared on social media.
Following the video's circulation, Gorakhpur Police initiated an investigation and verified the identities and professional affiliations of the people shown in it. The investigation found that the person appearing in the police uniform was not employed by the police department. The youth appearing as an advocate was also found not to be a real advocate.
SP City Nimish Patil said an investigation had been conducted into the viral video related to the Shahpur area. He said the video was found to be staged and that neither of the two people appearing as a police officer and an advocate was actually a police officer or advocate. According to police, the video was prepared to generate likes and views on social media. Police also said that such videos could affect the image of the police and the legal profession, and action was being taken in the matter.
Police have taken two youths into custody for questioning. Information has also emerged regarding the process of registering a case under relevant sections at Shahpur police station. Police are investigating who made the video, who else was involved in shooting it and how it was circulated on social media. They are also examining whether the video was created solely for entertainment and views or whether there was any other motive.
According to police, the approximately 2-minute-55-second video was scripted to make viewers perceive it as a genuine road dispute. It included a motorcycle, a police-style uniform, advocate-style clothing, an argument, abusive exchanges and scenes of physical assault. People appearing to intervene in the confrontation also contributed to the appearance of an actual incident. Police verification, however, found the entire sequence to be staged.
Police officials have said action will be taken against those involved in creating and circulating misleading videos and rumours. Police are examining the role of the people who created and distributed the video, particularly because a fake incident was staged using a police uniform.
The investigation in the Shahpur area case is continuing. Two suspects are being questioned, while police are examining other aspects connected with the video. Police have established that the person shown as the ‘sub-inspector’ was not a real police officer and that the person shown as the alleged ‘advocate’ was not a real advocate. The purported police-advocate altercation circulating on social media was instead a staged video created to generate likes and views.
