Prayagraj Police Combat Misinformation Campaign Targeting Mahakumbh
The sacred Mahakumbh, a pivotal event in the Hindu calendar, found itself embroiled in a vortex of misinformation in early February 2025. Prayagraj police took swift action, lodging FIRs against several social media users for disseminating false narratives surrounding the religious gathering. The epicenter of the controversy revolved around a repurposed video from Nepal, falsely depicting a stampede at the Mahakumbh, resulting in devotee fatalities. This fabricated narrative was further amplified by claims of absent ambulance services and the callous disposal of bodies in the Ganges River.
The police, armed with two FIR copies, invoked sections 353 under the BNS, 2023, and section 67 of the IT Act against the accused. These individuals stand accused of propagating misinformation about a stampede, alleging that the bodies of victims were heartlessly discarded in the river after organ harvesting. The Kumbh Mela police, via its official X (formerly Twitter) account, issued a stern warning against spreading unverified information, emphasizing the importance of fact-checking before posting on social media platforms. They shared a screenshot of a user’s post, highlighting the false claim about the lack of ambulances at the Mahakumbh.
The misinformation campaign followed a genuine tragedy that occurred on January 29th, 2025, when a stampede during Mauni Amavasya claimed the lives of approximately 30 individuals and injured 60 others. The incident unfolded as a massive throng of devotees converged for a holy dip, highlighting the challenges of managing such large-scale religious gatherings. In response to the tragedy, the Uttar Pradesh government declared the Mahakumbh Kshetra a no-vehicle zone and revoked all VVIP passes to facilitate smoother devotee movement.
However, the tragedy became fodder for further misinformation. Opposition parties seized upon the incident, launching a scathing attack on the Uttar Pradesh government, alleging gross administrative failure. Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav made exaggerated claims about the death toll, alleging thousands were killed, with some bodies disposed of in the Ganges and others buried. Fellow MP Jaya Bachchan added fuel to the fire by asserting that the river water was contaminated due to the disposal of victims’ bodies.
These narratives were echoed and amplified on social media, prompting a robust response from the police. SSP Dwivedi, addressing the issue, underlined the commitment of the joint investigative team to uncover the motives behind the deliberate defamation of the Kumbh Mela. He emphasized a thorough investigation to determine the reasons behind the surge of fake videos in the lead-up to the third Amrit Snan on Basant Panchami. The police aimed to hold those responsible for spreading misinformation accountable and to restore the sanctity of the Mahakumbh.
The misinformation took various forms. One FIR documented a social media user, identified as ‘tigeryadav519,’ alleging the disposal of bodies in the Ganges after organ removal, even claiming that some living victims were thrown into the river. Another FIR implicated seven social media handles for sharing the manipulated video from Nepal, falsely portraying it as a scene from the Kumbh. These accounts propagated the narrative of a family carrying the bodies of three deceased members on their shoulders, coupled with accusations of administrative failure in providing ambulance services post-stampede.
The stampede on January 29th transpired during Mauni Amavasya, a highly auspicious day for Hindus. The confluence of the Sun and Moon in the same Rashi (Capricorn) amplifies the significance of a ritual bath at the Triveni Sangam, believed to cleanse one’s sins. This spiritual importance drew an estimated 10 crore people to the Mela Kshetra, with 5.7 crore having already performed the ritual bath by 4 pm on Wednesday. The tragedy unfolded around 1-2 am when a surge of devotees breached barricades, unintentionally trampling upon those sleeping on the ground awaiting the Brahma Muhurat. While the collapse of barricades due to the sheer volume of people contributed to the incident, eyewitness accounts also pointed to potential involvement of anti-social elements instigating the chaos.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and assured continuous engagement with the administration. He highlighted the deployment of various agencies, including the Mela Authority, Police, Administration, NDRF, and SDRF, to manage the situation. In preparation for Vasant Panchami on February 2nd, police authorities implemented crowd control measures, using loudspeakers to guide devotees and ensure smooth movement to and from the Sangam. CM Yogi Adityanath personally reviewed the arrangements on February 1st, prioritizing the safety and well-being of the devotees. The Mahakumbh, despite being marred by tragedy and misinformation, continued with enhanced security and a renewed focus on devotee safety.