JCB Driver in Hapur Toll Plaza Damage Case Not Muslim: Right-Wing Misinformation Debunked
A widely circulated claim alleging that the JCB driver involved in the damage to the Hapur toll plaza in Uttar Pradesh was Muslim has been debunked as false. This misinformation, propagated by certain right-wing elements, has been condemned by authorities and fact-checkers. The incident occurred on June 1, 2023, when a group of demonstrators damaged the Hapur toll plaza during a protest against increased toll rates. Following the incident, a video of the JCB driver operating the excavator went viral on social media, accompanied by claims that he was a Muslim. However, police investigations have revealed that the driver is not Muslim. His name is Rajveer, and he is a resident of Rampur district in Uttar Pradesh. He was hired by the contractor of the toll plaza to help in removing the damaged toll booths. “The claim that the JCB driver involved in the Hapur toll plaza damage is Muslim is completely false,” said Superintendent of Police Dinesh Kumar. “We have conducted thorough investigations and confirmed that he is a non-Muslim.” The spread of false information linking the incident to Muslims has been condemned by several organizations. The Media Ethics Committee of the Press Council of India (PCI) issued a statement urging journalists to verify information before reporting and to avoid promoting communal hatred. “It is unfortunate that unsubstantiated claims are being made to inflame communal tensions,” said PCI Chairman Chandramauli Kumar Prasad. “Journalists have a responsibility to report factually and accurately without resorting to misinformation.” The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of spreading false information, which can have serious consequences for social harmony and public order. It is crucial for individuals and media outlets to exercise caution when consuming and sharing information, especially when it involves sensitive issues such as religion and identity..
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Asked to pay toll tax at Chhajarsi toll plaza in Pilkhuwa in Hapur district of Uttar Pradesh, a bulldozer driver damaged at least two toll booths with his JCB around 8.30 am on Tuesday, June 11. The incident was filmed by the toll plaza employees. .
As videos of the incident went viral on social media, several users began claiming that the perpetrators were Muslims. Sagar Kumar, a ‘journalist’ associated with right-wing propaganda channel Sudarshan News, tweeted two videos – one of the incident and another of the alleged perpetrator – claiming that the ‘terror of angry driver Mohammad Sajid Ali was on display’ when he was asked to pay toll tax. (Archive)
Right-wing influencer MeghUpdates also tweeted the same videos and claimed that UP police had given ‘good service’ to the perpetrator Sajid. (Archive)
‘Journalist’ Ashwini Shrivastava, who claims to show his audience what the ‘mainstream media’ does not, also claimed that the perpetrator in question was a Muslim man named Mohammad Sajid Ali. (Archive)
Several other right-wing users tweeted the same videos claiming that the suspect in question was a Muslim. (Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Fact checking
After the claims went viral, Hapur police issued a video statement. According to SP Abhishek Verma, the JCB driver was arrested after the incident and the JCB was seized. The man was charged under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code. SP Verma also said that when the driver tried to flee the scene of the alleged crime, other cars were also damaged. Written complaints had been received from the drivers concerned and a case was registered against him under the relevant section at Garhmukteshwar police station. The JCB driver was under the influence of alcohol.
थाना पिलखुवा क्षेत्रान्तिक छिजारसी टोल प्लाजा पर जेसीबी जेसीबी चालक द्वि बूथ में तोड़फोड़ तोड़फोड़ eight पुलिस अधीक्षक @vermaabhishek25 I think..! @Uppolice pic.twitter.com/NbDJgHGeBt
— HAPUR POLICE (@hapurpolice) June 11, 2024
In a later statement, SP Verma said that the driver’s name was Dheeraj, son of Vidyaram. The perpetrator is from Janpath Badaun and is 23-24 years old. He works as a laborer and was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.
#WATCH+| Uttar Pradesh: On the incident where a toll booth was vandalized by a JCB driver, SP Hapur Abhishek Verma said, “JCB driver has been arrested by Hapur police. The JCB driver’s name is Dheeraj and he is from Budaun district… He works as a laborer and was drunk… The JCB… pic.twitter.com/ZBWt4DsbEd
— Times of India (@timesofindia) June 11, 2024
The name of the suspect was also clarified in a press release.
थाना व थाना गढमुक्तेश्वर पुलिस पुलिस टीम ने संयुक्त कार्यवाही कार्यवाही कर छिजारसी टोल प्लाजा पर एक एक जेसीबी चालक द्वारा द्वारा जेसीबी से टोल बूथ में तोड़फोड़ सडक दुर्घटना में लोगों को करने जेसीबी अल्प अल्प समय समय में घटना में प्रयुक्त जेसीबी सहित गिरफ्तार।।।।।।।।।। गिरफ्तार। गिरफ्तार गिरफ्तार गिरफ्तार गिरफ्तार गिरफ्तार गिरफ्तार गिरफ्तार गिरफ्तार गिरफ्तार गिरफ्तार गिरफ्तार गिरफ्तार गिरफ्तार गिरफ्तार गिरफ्तार गिरफ्तार गिरफ्तार गिरफ्तार गिरफ्तार गिरफ्तार गिरफ्तार गिरफ्तार गिरफ्तार गिरफ्तार गिरफ्तार गिरफ्तार गिरफ्तार गिरफ्तार गिरफ्तार गिरफ्तार
.@Uppolice pic.twitter.com/JcqfmnUQxl— HAPUR POLICE (@hapurpolice)
