India is shaken by torment! After the Waqf (Amendment) Act was passed in early April 2025, protests erupted across the country. In West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, the marches quickly escalated into violence on April 11, resulting in three deaths. Reportedly, two Hindus were killed in a mob attack, and a Muslim man died due to chaotic police firing. Many residents fled to the neighboring Malda district to escape the menace. On April 12, the Calcutta High Court ordered the deployment of central security forces to halt the rallies and restore peace and order in the place.
Amid this turmoil, a viral video surfaced on the internet claiming to show an armed man walking freely in West Bengal. A video like this during such a time is a recipe for more disarray (causing the internet to explode in anger without verifying the facts).
This article determines whether the footage is genuine or misleading.
Video real or fake?
A reverse image search traced the viral video back to July 2024, uploaded by renowned Bangladeshi news channels during the Chattogram Quota Protests. Several media outlets like Bangla Tribune, Channel 24, and Somoy TV published the footage (back in the day), confirming that the video was indeed taken during the Quota Protests in Chattogram.
Furthermore, if you use relevant keywords like 'Chattogram Quota Protests,' it will lead you to Bangladeshi news reports from July 2024. These reports affirm that the incident occurred during widespread protests against government job reservations in Bangladesh. On July 16, 2024, clashes flared between protestors, police, and members of political groups such as Chhatra League, Jubo League, and Sukhbir Sebak League.
A man, recognized as Feroz Alam was caught walking through the Muradpur area of Chittagong with a pistol in hand, reportedly firing at demonstrators, as reported by Protidiner Bangladesh.
Moreover, West Bengal’s cybercrime division officially debunked the viral claim through a public statement, clarifying that the footage is from Bangladesh, not India.
It's always recommended to confirm the facts before reacting to anything, whether online or offline. We live in a hyper-connected world where mostly unnecessary things go viral and reach us first, to our dismay.