Two-year-old image of Namaz from UP claimed as a lockdown violation in TN
Claim: A photograph with false claims has been going around which shows that Muslims in Tamil Nadu are offering night prayers during Ramzan amidst the lockdown rules. A huge crowd is assembled for the same.
However, this is an old two year old image from Uttar Pradesh and not related with violating the lockdown rules.
The image was shared on Facebook with claims that around 700 people came together to offer prayers outside even though the lockdown order was input.
The post has been archived here.
The image also went on Twitter with captions in Tamil. The caption in English translates to “For the past two days at the Jama masjid street in Vellore District, Tirupattur Town, around 700 people are praying in the middle of the road at midnight. The police are under the command of the elite and the guards at night are clapping their hands, obeying the orders of a high-ranking official not to take photos or video on their phones. Sent from a friend of a policeman involved.”
TRUTH
This is an image taken in 2018 in Uttar Pradesh and not in 2020 at Tamil Nadu.
The image shows a large crowd of Muslim men praying and it is taken in Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh on 17th May, 2018. At that time, there was no lockdown implemented and were no signs of coronavirus outbreak in India.
The viral image has ‘Alamy stock photo’ written on it which shows that it is a screenshot from the stock photography agency named, Alamy. Alamy’s website also carries that photograph with few details about it. The description of the photograph says that it is from May 17, 2018. The caption states the picture was clicked in Prayagraj, then Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, during the month of Ramadan.
Even the Tirupattur district police tweeted about this false claim and denied that this image is from Tamil Nadu. The district police also informed that an FIR had been registered against those who shared it.
caution fake news
picture shot in #allahabad is falsely shared in social media as one taken in #tirupathur district.FIR has been registered against the miscreants
வழக்கு பதிவு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது பொய்யான செய்தி பரப்புவர் மீது சட்டநடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும்#fakenews #tnpolice pic.twitter.com/9Xkt1O2bAO
— Tirupathur Dist Police (@sp_tirupathur) May 1, 2020
So this dismisses the claims of the image being from Tamil Nadu as the photograph is old and unrelated to the lockdown due to COVID-19 cases in the country.
