Viral video falsely links Rajasthan protest to Delhi's Holi tragedy

A widely shared video on social media has falsely claimed to show police action in Uttam Nagar, Delhi, during March 2026. The footage actually captures a protest in Baran, Rajasthan, from a month earlier. The incident involved cow protection activists demanding an investigation into the death of a calf.

The event took place on 9 February 2026, when activists gathered outside the Pratap Chowk police outpost in Baran. They were protesting the death of a calf and calling for an impartial inquiry. Police responded with a lathi-charge, which was recorded and later misrepresented online.

The viral video was wrongly linked to a separate incident in Uttam Nagar, Delhi, where a 26-year-old man named Tarun died during Holi celebrations on 4 March 2026. Unlike the Baran protest, no religious groups were involved in the Baran demonstration. Eid-ul-Fitr, observed later in March, was also unrelated to the events in the video. Fact-checkers confirmed the footage shows police using force against protesters in Baran, not residents being advised to stay indoors. The location, date, and context were all misrepresented in the false claim.

The video's misattribution has led to confusion about the timing and location of the police action. The actual incident occurred in Baran, Rajasthan, during a protest over a calf's death. No connection exists between the footage and the Delhi Holi tragedy or Eid celebrations.