As protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls gathered pace in Delhi, several videos began circulating on social media. One clip, showing police personnel wearing shoes near Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, drew particular attention and triggered allegations of disrespect towards the Sikh place of worship.
Delhi Police issued a clarification, explaining that the personnel were walking through a common passage used by devotees before they remove their shoes to enter the gurdwara.
In a post on X, the police said the video was being circulated with malicious intent to hurt religious sentiments and disturb communal harmony. The force also said legal action was being initiated in the matter.
Regarding the video circulated on social media, alleging entry by police staff in Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, wherein some police staff is shown wearing shoes
In the circulated video some police staff is shown walking in the common passage, used by all devotees to reach the point where shoes are taken off to enter the Gurdwara.
The process is the same for all devotees coming to Gurdwara. The video showing the same is attached.The video has been circulated deliberately with malicious intent, to outrage the feelings of a respectable religious community and is prejudicial to the religious harmony.
Legal action is being initiated.— DCP New Delhi (@DCPNewDelhi) October 10, 2026
The clarification came amid the circulation of other misleading videos linked to protests organised by the Cockroach Janta Party and demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
PIB Fact Check debunks old and unrelated videos
The Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) Fact Check unit examined several videos being shared as footage of the ongoing Delhi protests.
One clip was presented as a live recording from Jantar Mantar. However, PIB clarified that it showed an earlier protest at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and was unrelated to the demonstrations in Delhi.
A video is being circulated online as footage of a protest at Jantar Mantar.
#PIBFactCheck:
❌ This video is NOT related to a protest at #JantarMantar.
✅ The footage is originally from a protest at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU).
⚠️ Do not share or rely on unverified information.
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) October 10, 2026
Another video, circulated by a Pakistani propaganda account, claimed that Delhi Police had opened fire on protesters.
🚨 FAKE CLAIM ALERT
A Pakistani propaganda account is circulating a video with the false claim that Delhi Police opened fire during a protest in Delhi.
#PIBFactCheck
❌ This video is NOT related to a protest at #JantarMantar
✅ The footage is old and is being shared with a misleading claim.
⚠️ Do not share or rely on unverified information.
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) October 10, 2026
PIB Fact Check identified the footage as old and rejected the claim linking it to the current protests.
A separate video showed garbage allegedly being dumped to disrupt the demonstrations. PIB clarified that the footage was from Panipat, Haryana, and dated back to August 2026. It showed a sanitation workers’ strike over their service-related demands, not an attempt to disrupt the Delhi protests.
FAKE NEWS ALERT! 🚨
Several social media posts falsely claim authorities deliberately dumped garbage to disrupt protests in Delhi
#PIBFactCheck
❌ This claim is FAKE
✅ The video is from Panipat, Haryana. It dates back to August 2026 and is related with sanitation workers’ strike over service demands
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) October 10, 2026
Why these clarifications matter
The circulation of old and unrelated footage can create confusion, particularly during politically sensitive protests. Videos stripped of their original context can quickly fuel anger, spread false claims and mislead viewers about events on the ground.
The Delhi Police clarification addressed the allegations surrounding the Gurdwara Bangla Sahib video, while PIB Fact Check identified the actual context of the AMU and Panipat clips.
These cases underline the need to verify a video’s source, date and location before sharing it, especially when it makes serious allegations about the police, religious institutions or public protests.
