NT Verdict
Misleading
'UP police brutalises peaceful protest' reel uses footage from a 2022 Hyderabad incident
Original post on Instagram
CivilRightsIN_
Instagram · Reel
Instagram Reel
2.3M views
CivilRightsIN_ This video shows UP police using force against peaceful protesters in Lucknow this week
Apr 5, 2026
The Claim Being Checked
“This video shows UP police using force against peaceful protesters in Lucknow this week”
What NT Found
The reel was captioned as showing UP Police cracking down on a peaceful gathering in Lucknow in April 2026. NT's team identified two specific inconsistencies: the police uniform shoulder patch reads 'TSPOL' (Telangana State Police), and vehicle registration numbers visible at the 12-second mark confirm Telangana registration. The incident has been traced to a 2022 protest outside Hyderabad's Charminar area.
NT Verdict
Misleading
Footage traced to a 2022 Hyderabad lathi-charge. Uniforms and vehicle numbers confirm Telangana Police, not UP.
How We Verified This
Step 1 — Detection
Content flagged after crossing 2.3M views on Instagram on Apr 5, 2026. NT's monitoring system triggered a verification queue entry. Assigned to Priya Mehta, Digital Desk.
Evidence 1
Shoulder patch on officers reads 'TSPOL' (Telangana State Police) — not UP Police
Evidence 2
Police vehicle AP/TS-09 series registration visible at 12-second mark confirms Hyderabad
Evidence 3
Reverse image search matches multiple Hyderabad-based media reports from November 2022
Evidence 4
UP DGP spokesperson confirmed no lathi-charge occurred in Lucknow in April 2026
Final Verdict
Misleading — Footage traced to a 2022 Hyderabad lathi-charge. Uniforms and vehicle numbers confirm Telangana Police, not UP.
Sources Consulted
3 sourcesGoogle Reverse Image Search
tool
UP DGP Media Cell statement
official
Deccan Chronicle Hyderabad archive, Nov 2022
media
How we verified this: NT's fact-checkers use reverse image/video search, EXIF metadata analysis, official records, direct source outreach, and where relevant, AI-detection tools. All verdicts undergo two-editor review before publication. Corrections published within 24 hours. Read our full methodology →
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