#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
A picture allegedly showing Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) owner Kavya Maran emotionally hugging young cricketer Vaibhav Suryavanshi has gone viral on social media. The image is being shared as a genuine photograph from a cricket-related event, with users claiming that Kavya Maran was seen embracing Vaibhav Suryavanshi. However, CyberPeace Research Wing research found the claim to be false. No credible news reports, official statements, or authentic photographs support the incident depicted in the viral image.
Claim
A Facebook user shared the viral image with the caption: “Kavya Maran Hug Vaibhav Suryavanshi 🥰🔥 #cricketnews #RRvsSRH” The link to the post and its screenshot are provided below.
Fact Check
During the research, we found no credible news reports, official statements, or authentic images confirming that Kavya Maran hugged Vaibhav Suryavanshi as shown in the viral picture. To further verify the image, it was analysed using AI detection tools, including Sightengine and Hive Moderation. Both tools indicated a high probability that the image was generated using Artificial Intelligence. The findings suggest that the viral photograph is not a genuine image captured at a real event but a digitally created visual.
Conclusion
Our research found that the viral image showing Kavya Maran emotionally hugging Vaibhav Suryavanshi is not authentic. The picture was generated using AI and does not depict a real incident.
Executive Summary:
A dramatic image circulating online, showing a Boeing 787 of Air India engulfed in flames after crashing into a building in Ahmedabad, is not a genuine photograph from the incident. Our research has confirmed it was created using artificial intelligence.
Claim:
Social media posts and forwarded messages allege that the image shows the actual crash of Air India Flight AI‑171 near Ahmedabad airport on June 12, 2025.
Fact Check:
In our research to validate the authenticity of the viral image, we conducted a reverse image search and analyzed it using AI-detection tools like Hive Moderation. The image showed clear signs of manipulation, distorted details, and inconsistent lighting. Hive Moderation flagged it as “Likely AI-generated”, confirming it was synthetically created and not a real photograph.
In contrast, verified visuals and information about the Air India Flight AI-171 crash have been published by credible news agencies like The Indian Express and Hindustan Times, confirmed by the aviation authorities. Authentic reports include on-ground video footage and official statements, none of which feature the viral image. This confirms that the circulating photo is unrelated to the actual incident.
Conclusion:
The viral photograph is a fabrication, created by AI, not a real depiction of the Ahmedabad crash. It does not represent factual visuals from the tragedy. It’s essential to rely on verified images from credible news agencies and official investigation reports when discussing such sensitive events.
- Claim: An Air India Boeing aircraft crashed into a building near Ahmedabad airport
- Claimed On: Social Media
- Fact Check: False and Misleading
Executive Summary:
The internet has become a hub for fraudsters, and a new fraudulent scheme has been circulating, stating a free 84-day recharge of ₹719 given by the Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi in celebration of the BJP Government formation in 2024. This is yet another scam that uses tricks to lure the users, for instance by fake questionnaires, fake promises and the use of the Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image to give a fake impression of legitimacy. The following blog post analyzes the scam and offers recommendations on how to recognize similar frauds and avoid them.
False Claim:
A viral link trending on various social media platforms states that Narendra Modi, the Honourable Prime Minister of India, is giving a free 84-day free recharge worth ₹719 to all users in India and this is an Election Bonus in celebration of the BJP government formation in 2024. The claim insists the users are required to click on the link (https://offerraj.in/Congress2024-Recharge/id=9jMiaeN1) and complete a questionnaire to get the offer.
The Deceptive Scheme:
- Mobile-Only Access: The malicious link (https://offerraj.in/Congress2024-Recharge/id=9jMiaeN1) is designed to open only on mobile devices; this makes it easier for more people to be affected.
- Multiple Redirects: After clicking the link, the users are led through a sequence of other links in order to conceal the actual source of the deception, and probably a try of making it difficult to track the notorious activity.
- Fake Comments & Images: First, the landing page contains a banner with the photo of India’s Honourable Prime-Minister Narendra Modi which gives the site’s visitors the impression of the official source. Also, fake comments can be made for the same reason, stating that the author has received a free recharge and supporting the so-called initiative.
- Fake Prize Notifications: For instance, after responding to the questions in the questionnaire, users may be presented with messages such as ‘Congratulations, you have won a free recharge’; this further creates an impression of a genuine offer.
- Social Sharing Requirement: To collect the so-called ‘prize’, the users are requested to share the link in the WhatsApp or other social networks, thus contributing to the spread of the scam.
Analyzing the Fraudulent Campaign:
- No Official Announcement: The internet and other social platforms are the only places where such an offer has been mentioned, and there is no official announcement from the Government or any other authorized body.
- Multiple Redirects: After clicking the link, users are taken through multiple redirects to obfuscating the source of the deception and to trace the malicious activity.
- Suspicious Domain and Hosting: The campaign is hosted on a third-party domain (offerraj.in) instead of any official government website, raising suspicion about its authenticity.
- Personal Data Collection: The questionnaire prompts users to provide personal information, which legitimate Government initiatives would not typically request through unofficial channels.
- Insecure HTTP Link: The link provided is an insecure HTTP link, whereas legitimate government websites employ secure HTTPS encryption.
Domain Analysis:
The actual url is hosted on a third party domain instead of the official website of the BJP or any Government website. This is the common way to deceive users into falling for a Phishing scam. Whois information reveals that the domain has been registered recently i.e on 28-03-2023 and the domain is registered with godaddy.com and state is from Rajasthan, India. Cybercriminals used Cloudflare technology to mask the actual IP address of the fraudulent website.
- Domain Name: offerraj.in
- Registry Domain ID: D9483D0EB38264263958C9609D2DCEA70-IN
- Registrar WHOIS Server:
- Registrar URL: www.godaddy.com
- Updated Date: 2024-05-03T07:30:03Z
- Creation Date: 2023-03-28T04:33:12Z
- Registry Expiry Date: 2026-03-28T04:33:12Z
- Registrar: GoDaddy.com, LLC
- Registrar IANA ID: 146
- Registrant State/Province: Rajasthan
- Registrant Country: IN
- Name Server: johnathan.ns.cloudflare.com
- Name Server: braelyn.ns.cloudflare.com
Similar offer surfing with different links: Several similar kind of offers through various links such as https://offerintro.com/BJP2024-Recharge/id=QYntPBDU, https://mahaloot2.xyz, https://mahaloot3.xyz, https://pmoffer4.online, are available in the social media. All these links are analysed and validated to be malicious or phishing links.
CyberPeace Advisory and Best Practices:
- Stay Informed: Be aware of potential scams and rely on official government channels for verified information.
- Verify Website Security: Do not click on links that have the ‘http’ at the beginning and focus on sites that have encryption (‘https’).
- Protect Personal Information: Be careful when there is any request to send some type of personal information, especially if it is done through informal companies.
- Report Suspicious Activity: When you notice that you have been scammed or a certain activity is fraudulent, ensure to report the incidents to the necessary authorities and the platforms to prevent others from being scammed.
Conclusion:
The claim of 84 day free recharge worth ₹719 to all users in India as an “Election Bonus” is false and similar kinds of various links are consistently surfing through the internet. The deceptive practices employed in these kinds of links are insecure and it has multiple redirects to false promises which highlights the need for heightened awareness and caution among internet users. In this digital world, it is important to stay informed, verify the authenticity of resources to protect personal information. Individuals can safeguard themselves against such fraudulent schemes and contribute to a safer online environment.
