Kolkata: A video showing a large fire incident in Bangladesh has been widely circulated on social media with a misleading claim that it depicts an incident at the residence of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The video has triggered confusion and political reactions amid already heightened post-poll tensions in the state.
Fact-checking efforts have clarified that the viral clip is unrelated to West Bengal and is, in fact, from a separate incident in Bangladesh. The footage shows a massive fire engulfing a structure, but there is no evidence linking it to any location in India.
The misleading claim gained traction on multiple social media platforms, where users shared the video alongside captions suggesting that it showed damage or unrest at the Chief Minister’s residence. However, no official confirmation or credible report supports this assertion.
Authorities and fact-checkers have flagged the content as misinformation, stating that the video has been taken out of context and misrepresented. The Press Trust of India (PTI) has also reported that the clip originates from Bangladesh and is being wrongly associated with West Bengal’s political scenario.
In the wake of the circulation, concerns have been raised over the rapid spread of unverified content during politically sensitive periods. Officials have reiterated the importance of verifying sources before sharing such material online, especially when it has the potential to incite confusion or tension.
Meanwhile, political observers noted that West Bengal has been witnessing increased online activity involving misinformation and edited media content following recent electoral developments. Such incidents, they say, often lead to unnecessary speculation and can disrupt public order if not addressed promptly.
Cyber experts have urged users to rely on verified news agencies and official statements rather than forwarding unverified clips. They also highlighted that reverse image and video searches can often help identify the original source of viral content.
No official complaint has been reported in connection with the false claim so far, but monitoring of social media platforms is ongoing. Authorities are expected to take action against accounts found deliberately spreading misinformation.
The incident once again highlights the growing challenge of digital misinformation, where unrelated international events are sometimes falsely linked to local political narratives, creating confusion among the public.
