A disturbing video, purportedly showing a truck loaded with animal remains being intercepted at the Fatehganj gate in Bareilly, is widely circulating on social media. The posts claim that the police arrested a Hindu man driving the vehicle, fuelling communal speculation.
The video is shared on Facebook with a caption: रेली के फतेहगंज फाटक पर गाय और भैंस के पायो से भरी एक पिकअप बरामद होने से हड़कंप मच गया। स्थानीय लोगों ने जमकर हंगामा किया, जिसके बाद पुलिस मौके पर पहुंची, पुलिस ने पिकअप चालक सोनू कुमार को हिरासत में लिया। *प्लीज शेयर एंड फॉलो करें (English version: A pickup van carrying cow and buffalo feet was found at Fatehganj gate in Bareilly, causing a stir. Locals created a ruckus, after which police reached the spot and took the driver, Sonu Kumar, into custody. *Please share and follow*)
Here’s the link to the above post. (Archive)
FACT CHECK
NewsMobile fact-checked the above claim, and found it to be MISLEADING.
Searching with relevant keywords, the NM team identified credible media reports from Dainik Bhaskar and Amar Ujala, dated February 2025. According to Dainik Bhaskar, the incident took place near the Dhaneta gate on the National Highway in the Fatehganj West area of Bareilly. A pickup truck transporting a large quantity of severed animal legs met with an accident while allegedly taking a detour to avoid paying toll charges. Curious bystanders inspected the vehicle and discovered more than 1,500 animal limbs inside, prompting them to call police.
The Amar Ujala report, dated February 21, 2025, mentions that after the public disturbance, local law enforcement took the vehicle into custody. Senior officers, including the Circle Officer and Station House Officer, reached the site, and a veterinary officer from Mirganj was called to inspect the cargo. The samples were sealed and handed over for investigation. Contrary to the viral social media claims, the Bareilly police arrested two individuals identified as Sajid Hussain, a resident of Hajiapur Khajur Wali Masjid under Baradari police station, and Sarfaraz Ahmed, a resident of Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir. Both were booked under animal cruelty charges based on a complaint filed by Mahipal Gurjar, district vice-president of the Vishwa Hindu Mahasangh, and later sent to jail.
Thus, it is confirmed that the viral claim that a Hindu youth was arrested for transporting animal remains in Bareilly is entirely false.
