At least 20 people including a Delhi Police Head Constable, have died in the north-east Delhi that has been on the boil since Sunday evening. Amidst the shocking reports that have come out from the area is a mosque in Ashok Nagar being set on fire on February 25.

In one of the videos of the incident that soon went viral, a man can be seen climbing up the minaret and placing a Hanuman flag. Another can be seen trying to place an Indian flag on the minaret. The video was shared by many including noted journalist Rana Ayyub on Twitter.

However, Ayyub took down the video after several, including Tehseen Poonawalla, claimed that the video was fake and unrelated to the current events. After confirming its authenticity, she posted it again.

Re-posting this video after verifying its authenticity. It is from Delhi. Men marching on top of a mosque, vandalising it and placing a saffron flag over it. pic.twitter.com/bScgJMxKc3

— Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) February 25, 2020

Stop what you’re doing, watch this video & read about what’s happening in India.As Trump and Modi parade across the country, mobs are openly attacking Muslims, looting their businesses & desecrating houses of worship just like you see in this video.pic.twitter.com/ouMXwXMsVg

— Arjun Sethi (@arjunsethi81) February 25, 2020

Claim

Later in the day, DCP North West, Delhi, said that the news regarding the mosque being vandalised in Ashok Vihar was fake.

‘Some false information/news item has been circulating regarding damage to a mosque in Ashok Vihar area. It is to clarify that no such incident has taken place in the area of Ashok Vihar. Please do not spread false information,’ the DCP said.

Poonawalla also shared the same in reply to Ayyub’s video.

https://t.co/DOwnDqVFmE

— Tehseen Poonawalla Official (@tehseenp) February 25, 2020

Police responds to the fake ‘mosque vandalising’ video being circulated on social media. ‘No such incident took place’, says police.Details by TIMES NOW’s Priyank Tripathi. | #DelhiFightHate | @thenewshour AGENDA with Padmaja Joshi. pic.twitter.com/Su324UTof2

— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) February 25, 2020

Soon after the Delhi police’s tweet, many demanded the arrest of Ayyub and others who shared the video for spreading fake information.

@DelhiPolice arrest everyone who shared the video including @RanaAyyub @GAUAHAR_KHAN @scroll_in @thewire_in @sanjaynirupam & more. They incited riots by share it deliberately @AmitShah @HMOIndia

— Sumit kadel (@SumitkadeI) February 25, 2020

Dear @DelhiPolice fake news was spread by @RanaAyyub who is a serial offender.Hope you take strict action against her. How does @washingtonpost associate itself with a communal bigot and a hatemongers. #RanaAyub #DelhiRiots pic.twitter.com/rpW00atZrs

— Naina 🇮🇳 (@NaIna0806) February 25, 2020

Some even claimed that it is an old video from Bihar, where a mosque was attacked in 2018 in Samastipur.

DCP North West Delhi: This is a old video from bihar. Some false news item has been circulating regarding damage to a mosque in Ashok Vihar area. It is to clarify that no such incident has taken place in the area of Ashok Vihar. Please do not spread false information https://t.co/mzD7JldLPh

— Sapna Madan ❄️Care4Animals❄️ (@sapnamadan) February 25, 2020

Jihadis are now trying to play victim card.😒They are sharing a video of a mosque destroyed in Samastipur, Bihar in 2018 as the one from today’s rioting in #DelhiRiots😡🤬Even Delhi police has clarified that no mosque was attacked in Ashok Nagar.#DelhiViolence

— Upasana Singh (@upasanashindu) February 25, 2020

Political commentator Nisheeth Sharan tweeted claiming that a criminal complaint was filed against Ayyub for circulating fake, old video.

Criminal complaint filed against Rana Ayyub for circulating fake, old video under relevant sections. Likely to be arrested… https://t.co/3DXl7CCEFR

— Nisheeth Sharan (@nisheethsharan) February 25, 2020

Fact Check

Ashok Nagar Not Ashok Vihar

Many people are confusing Ashok Vihar with Ashok Nagar, where the vandalism actually too place. Even, The Wire had initially reported that a mosque in Ashok Vihar, Delhi was set on fire. However, they later clarified that the video was from Ashok Nagar.

It is also to be noted that in the various reports doing rounds on social media, DCP North West, Delhi, clearly says that no mosque was vandalised in Ashok Vihar.

DCP North West, Delhi: Some false information/news item has been circulating regarding damage to a mosque in Ashok Vihar area. It is to clarify that no such incident has taken place in the area of Ashok Vihar. Please do not spread false information.

— ANI (@ANI) February 25, 2020

The Video Is From February 25

The Wire’s Naomi Barton, who reported the incident, took to Twitter to clarify that she personally saw the flag on top of the minaret in of the mosque in Ashok Nagar on February 25.

Making this very clear : I personally saw the flag on top of the miniaret of the mosque at Ashok NAGAR, not VIHAR. The mosque had been burned, and a footwear shop underneath it was l…