Fact Check: Video Of Man Climbing Dome Of Gyanvapi Complex Going Viral With Misleading Claims

 New Delhi (Vishvas News): The ASI is currently conducting a survey of the Gyanvapi campus in Varanasi. Meanwhile, a video is circulating on social media depicting a man standing on a ladder attached to the dome. Some social media users are using this video to propagate divisive sentiments, falsely asserting that a Muslim man was seen ascending the dome during the court-mandated Gyanvapi survey.

Upon investigation by Vishvas News, it was determined that the man seen on the ladder was sent by the ASI team to perform a specific task on the dome. It’s worth noting that the ASI team comprises members from both Hindu and Muslim backgrounds. The young man spotted climbing the ladder was actively participating in the survey. The video is being shared with a misleading claim that incorrectly adds a communal angle to the incident.

What’s going viral?

On August 9, a Twitter user under the handle ‘Hum Log We The People‘ posted the video, stating: “The court-ordered Gyanvapi survey is currently underway. Meanwhile, a Muslim man was spotted ascending the dome of Gyanvapi.” Similarly, on August 9, a Facebook user named ‘Sonam Hindu‘ also shared a video making the same claim.

Investigation:

To verify this viral claim, we initiated a search using relevant keywords on Google. The news regarding this incident was covered by Live Hindustan on August 8. Screenshots of the viral videos were also included in the article. According to the news report, “The ASI is conducting a survey of the Gyanvapi Masjid adjacent to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi as ordered by the district court. This survey has been ongoing for the past five days. The ASI team, consisting of members from both the Hindu and Muslim communities along with their respective lawyers, commenced the survey work on August 4 (Friday). The survey takes place daily from 9 am to 5 pm, with more than 50 personnel divided into four teams participating in the investigation. On August 7 (Monday), the survey was being conducted near the dome of the mosque when a young man was observed climbing the dome using a ladder. This act was captured on video and subsequently shared with various misleading claims, including allegations of tampering with evidence. A complaint was filed with the Varanasi police regarding this incident. Upon investigation, it was revealed that the youth was cooperating with the survey and had climbed the dome under the direction of the ASI team. The Varanasi police were already informed of this arrangement. The young man had ascended the dome using the ladder to assist in taking measurements. Inspector Shivakant Mishra confirmed that a report had been submitted to the DGP office. Additionally, DCP Kashi Zone RS Gautam clarified that there were no hindrances to the survey and no evidence tampering occurred. The youth had climbed the dome as part of the ASI team’s instructions.”

Furthermore, news related to this incident was available on the UP Tak website, along with the viral video. The report, published on August 7, stated, “The fifth day of the Gyanvapi campus survey took place on Monday. The survey occurred between 11 am and 5 pm, during which the ASI team inspected all three domes of the Gyanvapi mosque. A video surfaced depicting a person climbing the dome using a ladder and holding a rope in his hand, which he threw onto the dome. However, this was all part of the ASI survey. It’s important to note that when the ASI team initially arrived for the survey, the Muslim side appealed to the Supreme Court for an injunction. Subsequently, the court halted the survey for two days, instructing the Muslim side to approach the High Court. Despite this, the High Court dismissed the petition.”

To further corroborate the information, we spoke with Inspector Shivakant Mishra, who leads the Chowk police station. He confirmed that the ASI survey team included individuals from both the Hindu and Muslim communities. The young man had climbed the dome solely based on the ASI team’s instructions. A report was also submitted to the DGP office regarding this matter.

We also reached out to Bharatiya Basant Kumar, the editorial in-charge of Dainik Jagran in Varanasi. He explained, “Security measures encompass the Gyanvapi campus in three layers. Consequently, it is highly improbable for an unknown individual to access the premises. Laborers are also present alongside the ASI survey team. Only one young man from the team ascended the dome, and he was not associated with any antisocial activities.”

Lastly, we examined the profile of the Twitter user who propagated the video along with the misleading claim. This user, who has around 67,000 followers, has been active on Twitter since December 2011. The user’s content is influenced by a particular ideology.

Conclusion: During the Gyanvapi survey in Varanasi, the youth climbed the dome on the directions of the ASI team. The Varanasi police were aware of this beforehand.

Tags

• Gyanvapi Mosque
• Varanasi