Fact Check: 2016 Photo From China Falsely Shared As Sitaram Yechury’s Dead Body
Vishvas News investigation revealed that an old picture of a Chinese doctor’s body is being misattributed to Sitaram Yechury misleadingly claiming it to be from AIIMS, New Delhi.
- By: Ashish Maharishi
- Published: Sep 19, 2024 at 04:42 PM
New Delhi (Vishvas News). Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury died on 12 September at AIIMS Hospital in Delhi after a long illness. His body has been donated to the hospital. Now some users are sharing a picture, where hospital staff can be seen paying respect to a deceased person, with the claim that these doctors are honouring Sitaram Yechury’s body.
Vishvas News investigated the viral post and found that the viral image dates back to 2016, and is related to the death of a doctor in China. The image is being used to spread misinformation and has no connection with Sitaram Yechury. Furthermore, Yechury’s family has donated his entire body, not just his organs, as claimed in the viral post.
What is going viral
Facebook user Sajjan Jakhar shared a picture on September 17, 2024, with the caption, “Doctors at AIIMS Delhi paid their last respects to an organ donor. The donor’s name is Sitaram Yechury. Hindustan will never forget the sacrifice of comrade Sitaram Yechury for donating his body. Lal Salaam.”
Investigation
Vishvas News first reviewed the news reports related to Yechury’s death. As per a news article published on Jagran.com on September 13, 2024, after Yechury’s death on September 12, 2024, at AIIMS in Delhi, his family decided to donate his body to the hospital for medical research.
During our investigation, we found an interview of AIIMS media in-charge and professor of the Anatomy department Dr Reema Dada, shared on ANI’s X handle on September 14, 2024. In the video, she can be heard explaining the entire process of body donation and confirms that after Yechury passed away, his family decided to donate his body to the hospital.
We used reverse image search to find the origin of the viral picture. We found the original image on the Beijing-based news website China Global Television Network (CGTN) on Yandex. A news article published on September 30, 2016, reported that 41-year-old doctor Zhao Xu from Anhui province in East China had volunteered with a group of doctors to work in Shannan area of Tibet Autonomous Region. After he died due to illness, his family decided to donate his organs. The picture shows fellow doctors paying respect to Zhao Xu’s body in Hefei, the capital of Anhui province.
The news report also includes a statement from Dr Zhao Xu’s father, along with other pictures. The full news can be accessed here.
Vishvas News continued its investigation and contacted Dr. Reema Dada, media in-charge and professor of Anatomy department at AIIMS Delhi. She confirmed that Yechury’s family has donated his body to AIIMS for medical research and clarified that the viral image is not from AIIMS.
Additionally, an investigation of the Facebook account of the user Sajjan Jakhar, revealed that he has over 1000 followers and resides in Hisar.
Conclusion: Vishvas News investigation revealed that an old picture of a Chinese doctor’s body is being misattributed to Sitaram Yechury misleadingly claiming it to be from AIIMS, New Delhi.
- Claim Review : Doctors of Delhi AIIMS paid their last respects to the body of Sitaram Yechury
- Claimed By : Facebook User Sajjan Jakhar
- Fact Check : False
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