Fact Check: Delhi Police Didn't Burn A Broken-Down Bus To Instigate Riots

A video of Delhi Police emptying cans in the bus in a riot-affected area in Delhi, has gone viral on social media. There are two cluster city buses which appear to be damaged with a burning two-wheeler beside them.

The video was first shared by Twitter handle NBT Dilli. Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia shared the tweet. He even alleged that the policemen deployed at the spot were pouring fuel in the bus.

ये फ़ोटो देखिए.. देखिए कौन लगा रहा है बसों और कारों में आग.. यह फ़ोटो सबसे बड़ा सबूत है बीजेपी की घटिया राजनीति का… इसका कुछ जवाब देंगे बीजेपी के नेता .. pic.twitter.com/8HvHC8epwn

— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) December 15, 2019

The tweet has around 13000 likes and 7000 retweets. A Twitter User @SquareGas has put out a series of tweets on this. The user shared another video with a policeman putting water on a bus’ seat, claiming that it was a cover-up after the Delhi Police burnt the bus down.

Sanghis are now circulating this staged coverup videographed in an altogether different bus (DL1PC5299)

Shame on you @rajshekharTOI
for being complicit

And by the way, why is the policeman sprinkling mineral water on bus which has no signs of fire ������https://t.co/ysyJ4DkcsS pic.twitter.com/5xsa66Ruv1

— Pyaar Se Mario (@SquareGas) December 15, 2019

TV Anchor Rahul Kanwal too put out a post saying that the bus shown in the video has been kept in the Rajghat Depot.

Folks like @msisodia need to be careful about what they tweet. Delhi’s Dy CM alleged Delhi Police officials were setting buses on fire. The bus which Delhi Police supposedly set on fire is safe in the yard. Situation is already volatile. Netas shouldn’t be spreading fake news. pic.twitter.com/uDR8vJHCbO

— Rahul Kanwal (@rahulkanwal) December 16, 2019

The user went on to ask proof from Kanwal about the proper location of the bus, and also alleged that the license plate of the vehicle may have been changed overnight.

The user @SquareGas have put another allegation stating that the Delhi Police may have used broken down bus to show vandalism in the protest. The user via a Delhi police tweet had said that the bus with number DL1PD0299 had broken down in August last year.

This tweet series has got around 1000 likes and 1000 retweets.

This is now getting ridiculous bad luck for Delhi Police & BJP

Same bus DL1PD0299 was reported to be broken down about 1.5 years ago by Delhi Traffic Police ��������

Did they torch up a broken down bus to set things up for protestors?#WhereIsDL1PD0299https://t.co/iUrxMA4HpB

— Pyaar Se Mario (@SquareGas) December 15, 2019

Bhaisahab ye kya daal rahe ho bus mein, paani to nahi lag raha hai? pic.twitter.com/pkWxkjexjL

— Nенr_wно™ (@Nehr_who) December 15, 2019

Fact Check

The Logical Indian in its investigation found out that the bus with the same number, as shown in the video, has been parked at the allocated Rajghat Depot. In several media channels’ reports, the condition of the bus is shown. Only one of the seat cushions is seen burnt, which is seen covered with wet soil at the place where one of the policemen was standing and tilting the can inside.

Other than this, there were no signs that the bus caught fire. Details such as a missing indicator lamp, a torn reflective strip, a broken windshield with only one wiper, the shape of the license plate and a broken mirror brace with a decorative piece helped us in confirming that this was indeed the same bus in the viral video.

The data of the bus on the mParivahan app revealed that there were three registered violations against the bus for wrong parking, crossing the white line at a zebra crossing and rash driving. The rash driving case was registered on October 18, 2019. The data counters the claim that Delhi Police used a broken-down bus to instigate riots.

This certainly proves that contrary to claims, the bus was indeed in a running condition before it was vandalised.

Conclusion

Delhi Police neither attempted to put the bus on fire nor staged the bus for the protests. Hence, the claims made by twitter users are false.

Also Read: Jamia Protest: Delhi Police To File Cases Against People Who Shared Fake News On Social Media