#FactCheck - Old Bareilly Lathi-Charge Video Falsely Linked to Lucknow Protest
Executive Summary
A video is being widely shared on social media and linked to protests that allegedly took place in Lucknow after the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.Users claim that police in the capital of Uttar Pradesh baton-charged people who were protesting against the United States and Israel. The video is being widely circulated across social media platforms with this claim. However, research by CyberPeace found the claim to be false. Our verification revealed that the video is not from Lucknow but from Bareilly, and it is related to an incident that took place on September 26, 2025, when Uttar Pradesh Police baton-charged protesters during a rally held in support of the “I Love Mohammad” campaign.
Claim Post:
On March 3, 2026, an X (formerly Twitter) user shared the viral video claiming that the Uttar Pradesh Police took action against people blocking roads in Lucknow and creating unrest in support of Ali Khamenei.
Fact Check
To verify the claim, we extracted key frames from the viral video and conducted a reverse image search using Google Lens. During the search, we found a similar video posted on Instagram on September 26, 2025, indicating that the footage predates the current claim.
Further research led us to the same video on the website of Aaj Tak, where it was published on September 26, 2025.
According to the report, protests erupted in Bareilly after Friday prayers over a controversy related to “I Love Mohammad” posters. Hundreds of people took to the streets carrying banners and posters. The report further stated that protesters, responding to a call by cleric Maulana Tauqeer Raza, attempted to break police barricades and move forward. Police initially tried to persuade the crowd to disperse, but when the situation escalated and the crowd refused to back down, officers resorted to baton-charging to control the situation. The incident reportedly led to tension in the area.
Conclusion:
Our research found that the viral video being shared as police action on protesters in Lucknow after the alleged killing of Ali Khamenei is misleading. The footage is actually from Bareilly and shows a police baton-charge during a protest rally held on September 26, 2025 in support of the “I Love Mohammad” campaign.
Related Blogs
Executive Summary
Amid the ongoing war between the United States–Israel alliance and Iran since February 28, 2026, two videos are going viral across social media platforms. The clips show people running in panic, with visuals suggesting a large-scale attack. Users are sharing these videos with the claim that they depict Iran’s recent strikes on Israel. However, a research by the CyberPeace has found both claims to be false. The viral posts are misleading, as the videos are actually from the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, United States. They have no connection to the current conflict involving Iran or Israel.
Claim
A Facebook page titled ‘Bihar Ko Nihar’ shared one of the videos on March 25, 2026, with the caption: “Iran has launched its most powerful attack on Israel so far. Thousands of soldiers are reported dead, triggering massive protests within the country, and Israel appears completely helpless.” Similarly, another video is being circulated with the false claim that Iran has launched a missile attack on the United States.
The above claims are being widely shared by multiple users across different social media platforms. Archived versions of these posts are also available.
- https://www.facebook.com/reel/4317571078525937
- https://www.facebook.com/reel/1485000739860984
- https://perma.cc/E98R-A4CT
Fact Check
To verify the authenticity of the videos, keyframes were extracted and analyzed using Google Lens. The first viral clip was traced back to a YouTube video uploaded on September 11, 2007, by a channel named ‘Jumperwtc’, which clearly identifies the footage as being from the World Trade Center attacks in the United States. This confirms that the viral video is a segment from that older footage.
For the second video, reverse image searches led to a report published on CBS8.com on September 10, 2021, where the same visuals were found. Further reesearch revealed that the footage also appears in a video uploaded on September 11, 2021, by the YouTube channel ‘CBS 8 San Diego’. The viral segment can be seen around the 1:11 timestamp in that video.
Conclusion
Both viral videos being shared as recent attacks by Iran on Israel or the United States are actually old clips from the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. The claims are false, and the videos are unrelated to the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
Introduction
Considering the development of technology, Voice cloning schemes are one such issue that has recently come to light. Scammers are moving forward with AI, and their methods and plans for deceiving and scamming people have also altered. Deepfake technology creates realistic imitations of a person’s voice that can be used to conduct fraud, dupe a person into giving up crucial information, or even impersonate a person for illegal purposes. We will look at the dangers and risks associated with AI voice cloning frauds, how scammers operate and how one might protect themselves from one.
What is Deepfake?
Artificial intelligence (AI), known as “deepfake,” can produce fake or altered audio, video, and film that pass for the real thing. The words “deep learning” and “fake” are combined to get the name “deep fake”. Deepfake technology creates content with a realistic appearance or sound by analysing and synthesising diverse volumes of data using machine learning algorithms. Con artists employ technology to portray someone doing something that has never been in audio or visual form. The best example is the American President, who used deep voice impersonation technology. Deep voice impersonation technology can be used maliciously, such as in deep voice fraud or disseminating false information. As a result, there is growing concerned about the potential influence of deep fake technology on society and the need for effective tools to detect and mitigate the hazards it may provide.
What exactly are deepfake voice scams?
Artificial intelligence (AI) is sometimes utilised in deepfake speech frauds to create synthetic audio recordings that seem like real people. Con artists can impersonate someone else over the phone and pressure their victims into providing personal information or paying money by using contemporary technology. A con artist may pose as a bank employee, a government official, or a friend or relative by utilising a deep false voice. It aims to earn the victim’s trust and raise the likelihood that they will fall for the hoax by conveying a false sense of familiarity and urgency. Deep fake speech frauds are increasing in frequency as deep fake technology becomes more widely available, more sophisticated, and harder to detect. In order to avoid becoming a victim of such fraud, it is necessary to be aware of the risks and take appropriate measures.
Why do cybercriminals use AI voice deep fake?
In order to mislead users into providing private information, money, or system access, cybercriminals utilise artificial intelligence (AI) speech-deep spoofing technology to claim to be people or entities. Using AI voice-deep fake technology, cybercriminals can create audio recordings that mimic real people or entities, such as CEOs, government officials, or bank employees, and use them to trick victims into taking activities that are advantageous to the criminals. This can involve asking victims for money, disclosing login credentials, or revealing sensitive information. In phishing assaults, where fraudsters create audio recordings that impersonate genuine messages from organisations or people that victims trust, deepfake AI voice technology can also be employed. These audio recordings can trick people into downloading malware, clicking on dangerous links, or giving out personal information. Additionally, false audio evidence can be produced using AI voice-deep fake technology to support false claims or accusations. This is particularly risky regarding legal processes because falsified audio evidence may lead to wrongful convictions or acquittals. Artificial intelligence voice deep fake technology gives con artists a potent tool for tricking and controlling victims. Every organisation and the general population must be informed of this technology’s risk and adopt the appropriate safety measures.
How to spot voice deepfake and avoid them?
Deep fake technology has made it simpler for con artists to edit audio recordings and create phoney voices that exactly mimic real people. As a result, a brand-new scam called the “deep fake voice scam” has surfaced. In order to trick the victim into handing over money or private information, the con artist assumes another person’s identity and uses a fake voice. What are some ways to protect oneself from deepfake voice scams? Here are some guidelines to help you spot them and keep away from them:
- Steer clear of telemarketing calls
- One of the most common tactics used by deep fake voice con artists, who pretend to be bank personnel or government officials, is making unsolicited phone calls.
- Listen closely to the voice
- Anyone who phones you pretending to be someone else should pay special attention to their voice. Are there any peculiar pauses or inflexions in their speech? Something that doesn’t seem right can be a deep voice fraud.
- Verify the caller’s identity
- It’s crucial to verify the caller’s identity in order to avoid falling for a deep false voice scam. You might ask for their name, job title, and employer when in doubt. You can then do some research to be sure they are who they say they are.
- Never divulge confidential information
- No matter who calls, never give out personal information like your Aadhar, bank account information, or passwords over the phone. Any legitimate companies or organisations will never request personal or financial information over the phone; if they do, it’s a warning sign that they’re a scammer.
- Report any suspicious activities
- Inform the appropriate authorities if you think you’ve fallen victim to a deep voice fraud. This may include your bank, credit card company, local police station, or the nearest cyber cell. By reporting the fraud, you could prevent others from being a victim.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the field of AI voice deep fake technology is fast expanding and has huge potential for beneficial and detrimental effects. While deep fake voice technology has the potential to be used for good, such as improving speech recognition systems or making voice assistants sound more realistic, it may also be used for evil, such as deep fake voice frauds and impersonation to fabricate stories. Users must be aware of the hazard and take the necessary precautions to protect themselves as AI voice deep fake technology develops, making it harder to detect and prevent deep fake schemes. Additionally, it is necessary to conduct ongoing research and develop efficient techniques to identify and control the risks related to this technology. We must deploy AI appropriately and ethically to ensure that AI voice-deep fake technology benefits society rather than harming or deceiving it.
Reference
CyberPeace and Suraksha Catalyst: Building the Next Chapter of Indo-US Cybersecurity Collaboration
Some partnerships are transactional. Others are declarations of intent. The Memorandum of Understanding signed between CyberPeace and Suraksha Catalyst at the Indo-US Cyber Conclave 2026, held alongside the RSA Conference in San Francisco, belongs unmistakably to the latter category.
It represents more than two organisations agreeing to work together. It brings together two complementary approaches to cybersecurity—CyberPeace ’s community-centred mission and Suraksha Catalyst’s enterprise and Indo-US cybersecurity ecosystem—with a shared ambition to turn collaboration into measurable impact.
Why This Collaboration Is More Than Symbolic
It would be easy to view an MoU signed at a marquee international event as a ceremonial gesture. But the significance of this collaboration lies in what both organisations bring to the table.
CyberPeace brings deep experience in building cyber resilience across communities, institutions, students and other stakeholders. Its approach recognises that cybersecurity is not only a technical challenge; it is also a question of awareness, education, trust and collective responsibility.
Suraksha Catalyst brings a strong connection to cybersecurity leaders, industry and the broader Indo-American technology ecosystem. Its work helps create pathways between cybersecurity practitioners, enterprises, emerging innovators and strategic stakeholders.
Together, these capabilities create a bridge between community resilience and enterprise-grade cybersecurity, connecting education and awareness with industry exposure, mentorship and practical implementation.
The collaboration is already reflected in the NJ Youth Chapter Mentoring Program, which focuses on inspiring high school students to pursue cybersecurity careers while empowering them to strengthen cyber resilience in their own communities. The programme brings together industry mentors and young learners through a structured five-week journey.
This makes the partnership tangible: rather than limiting collaboration to institutional dialogue, it creates opportunities for young people to learn from cybersecurity professionals and then apply that knowledge in real-world environments.
Two Different Roads to the Same Frontier
CyberPeace has built its approach around the idea that a safer digital world requires participation from multiple layers of society. Its work extends beyond cybersecurity professionals to students, educators, communities and institutions.
Suraksha Catalyst approaches the same challenge through the industry and enterprise ecosystem, creating connections among cybersecurity leaders and organisations across India and the United States.
These different starting points converge around a common principle: cybersecurity resilience becomes stronger when knowledge, expertise and opportunity move across institutional boundaries.
The NJ Youth Chapter Mentoring Program is a strong example of this convergence.
Its first pillar, Mentor Connect, connects high school students with CISOs and security practitioners through weekly 30-minute virtual mentoring sessions. Its second pillar, Community Cyber Corps, encourages students to take what they learn and use it to raise cybersecurity awareness among local small businesses.
The model therefore moves beyond conventional mentoring. Students are not simply receiving knowledge; they are being encouraged to transform that knowledge into community impact.
From Mentoring to Real-World Experience
The programme follows a five-week journey, beginning with virtual mentoring, progressing to a business visit and concluding with a share-and-reflect phase.
This structure provides students with multiple dimensions of exposure:
Learn → Experience → Apply → Reflect
During the programme, participants engage with practical cybersecurity and AI topics including:
- Passwords and passkeys
- Responsible AI use
- AI-enabled phishing
- Patching and software updates
- Deepfake and voice fraud
- Network and Wi-Fi hygiene
- Incident response
- Prompt injection basics
- Vendor and supply-chain risk
These are not presented merely as theoretical cybersecurity concepts. Students are encouraged to understand how such risks manifest in everyday organisational environments and how individuals and businesses can respond.
Turning Young Learners into Community Cyber Ambassadors
Perhaps the most important dimension of the initiative is its emphasis on community impact.
As part of the programme, mentees put their learning into practice by leading a hands-on AI and cybersecurity workshop for employees at a local business. They explored the cyber threat landscape, social engineering, safe browsing and responsible AI, while also gaining experience communicating cybersecurity concepts to a real business audience.
This creates a valuable two-way impact.
Students gain practical experience, confidence and exposure to professional cybersecurity environments. At the same time, local businesses receive access to cybersecurity and AI awareness guidance.
The underlying idea is simple but powerful: when young people are given both knowledge and the opportunity to lead, cybersecurity awareness can travel beyond the classroom and into the wider community.
Inside the Security Operations Center
The programme also provides participants with direct exposure to enterprise security operations.
During an SOC visit, mentees experienced cybersecurity and physical security operations firsthand, observed live threat dashboards and learned how access and infrastructure are secured. Industry professionals also walked them through their day-to-day responsibilities and answered their questions.
For students considering cybersecurity as a career, such exposure can make an otherwise abstract career path tangible. Seeing security professionals operate in real environments helps connect classroom learning with the realities of enterprise cybersecurity.
The Bigger Message
The partnership between CyberPeace and Suraksha Catalyst therefore carries a message that extends beyond the signing of an MoU.
Cybersecurity's most difficult challenges—from protecting communities and young people to strengthening businesses and developing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals—cannot be addressed by a single sector working independently.
They require civil society's reach, industry's expertise, mentors' experience and young people's energy to move in the same direction.
For CyberPeace collaboration with Suraksha Catalyst creates an opportunity to extend its mission of building a safer and more peaceful cyberspace into a broader Indo-US ecosystem.
For Suraksha Catalyst, the collaboration creates an opportunity to connect its industry-oriented ecosystem with community-level cybersecurity education and youth empowerment.
And for the students participating in initiatives such as the NJ Youth Chapter Mentoring Program, the partnership turns cybersecurity from something they simply study into something they can experience, communicate and apply.
From an MoU to a Movement
The real measure of this partnership will ultimately be what emerges from it: joint programmes, mentorship opportunities, community initiatives, knowledge exchange, research, capacity building and stronger connections between cybersecurity professionals and the next generation.
The NJ Youth Chapter Mentoring Program offers an early illustration of what that vision can look like in practice—industry mentors connecting with students, students engaging with real businesses, and young people taking cybersecurity knowledge back into their communities.
The Indo-US cybersecurity relationship is increasingly creating space for governments, enterprises, technology leaders, researchers, civil-society organisations and young innovators to contribute to a shared digital future.
The CyberPeace –Suraksha Catalyst collaboration adds another important layer to that ecosystem: connecting enterprise expertise with community resilience and youth empowerment.
Because the future of cybersecurity will not be shaped only by those who build the technology or defend the infrastructure. It will also be shaped by the people who learn, teach, mentor, question and carry that knowledge into the communities around them.
That is where this partnership has the potential to make its most meaningful contribution—not simply by signing an agreement, but by turning collaboration into capability, capability into confidence, and confidence into lasting cyber resilience.
Reference
- https://www.linkedin.com/posts/a-proud-milestone-for-suraksha-catalyst-share-7440575975614070784-THNR/
- https://surakshacatalyst.com/
- https://cyberpeace.org/
