Fact Check: Claim Of Bogus Voting By Rohingya Muslims in Bengal With Fake Fingers is Wrong, Viral Picture Is From Japan
In its investigation, Vishvas News found that the viral image of fake fingers being shared with false claims linking it to the Lok Sabha elections 2024 is misleading and has no connection with India.
- By: Pragya Shukla
- Published: Apr 30, 2024 at 03:38 PM
New Delhi, Vishvas News – The image of artificial fingers being shared on social media linking it to the Lok Sabha elections 2024 and alleging Rohingya Muslims using them for fraudulent voting in West Bengal is misleading.
Vishvas News’s investigation revealed that the viral picture has no connection with India but originates from Japan. Doctor Yukako Fukushima in Japan makes these prosthetic fingers for people, which people are now sharing with false claims linking it to the Lok Sabha elections 2024.
What Is Going Viral?
While sharing the viral picture on April 28, 2024, Facebook user Tarun Dubey wrote in the caption, “See the arrangement of fake voting even after adding the names of illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingyas to the voter list in West Bengal. To hide the ink on the finger, they vote again and again by wearing a fake finger!”
You can view the archived post here. Additionally, some users shared this video on Vishvas News’ tipline number +91 9599299372 and requested clarification on its authenticity.
Investigation:
To uncover the truth behind the viral image, we searched the photo with the help of Google reverse image. We found the viral picture ( archive link ) on the profile of an X user named S Y Quraishi, who shared this viral image on February 21, 2017, relating it to the UP elections. On scanning the comment section, we found many users commented that these were fake fingers, made in Japan.
Taking the investigation forward, we started Google search with the help of related keywords. A report (archive link) from ABC News‘ (Archive) website on June 6, 2013, shed light on this matter. According to the report, the viral picture is from Japan and these artificial fingers are made by doctor Yukako Fukushima for people who have lost their fingers either in an accident or due to some other reason. Notably, Yukako Fukushima even created such a prosthetic finger for a member of Japan’s criminal gang Yazuka.
Additionally, we came across several other reports regarding Yukako Fukushima on various Japanese websites. For further clarification, we contacted Dainik Jagran’s West Bengal editor JK Vajpayee, Who affirmed that the viral claim is false and the image has nothing to do with Bengal.
Finally, we also investigated the account of the user who shared the image with the misleading claim. We observed that users share posts with a specific ideology. The user identifies as a resident of Uttar Pradesh on his profile.
Conclusion: In its investigation, Vishvas News found that the viral image of fake fingers being shared with false claims linking it to the Lok Sabha elections 2024 is misleading and has no connection with India.
- Claim Review : Fake voting is being done with the help of fake fingers in Bengal.
- Claimed By : FB User
- Fact Check : False
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