Fact Check: Shahrukh or Anurag Mishra? Who Was Man With Gun During Delhi Riots

As Delhi comes to terms with the worst communal violence in last four decades, the social media is getting flooded with claims and counter-claims to change the narrative of the 2020 riots. While exercising restraint and verifying every post is of paramount importance in such volatile times, there have been instances when incorrect posts have gone viral. One such post that is being widely shared by social media users claims the man in red t-shirt, who was caught on camera firing at people during Maujpur violence, is ‘actually a Hindu’. The post claimed that the reports about the man being identified as one Mohammed Shahrukh are untrue.

News Nation decided to find out the reality of the post. A user who identified himself as Tabish Khan had posted several photos and claimed that, “under propaganda, the man in red t-shirt is being presented as Shahrukh. Please share this and spread the truth about him.” The post gave details of another Facebook profile of a user named Anurag Mishra and claimed that it was the actual identity of the rioter. 

The now-deleted post was shared several thousand times and many people started discussing the case of mistaken identity. However, News Nation closely comparted the photographs of the rioter and the man, who was claimed to be him. It is clear that Anurag Mishra is NOT the same man who opened fire during the Delhi riots.

In fact, troubled over the viral claim, Mishra had issued a clarification on his Facebook page. Except for the complexion and thick eyebrows, the two don’t have any facial similarity whatsoever. So, according to the probe by News Nation, the viral claim turns out to be totally untrue.

Meanwhile, there are reports that Shahrukh is still absconding. Shahrukh had allegedly fired eight rounds of bullets. A video of a policeman confronting a mob led by Shahrukh went viral on social media. Shahrukh rushed towards Deepak Dahiya and threatened to shoot him from point-blank range but he remained calm and urged him to back off. While speaking to news agency ANI, Dahiya said his parents got scared when they saw the pistol was pointed at him by Shahrukh. But they understand it’s his job they are proud of him. 

According to The Indian Express, a police official said that the father of Shahrukh is a local drug peddler and has been incarcerated many times for his activity. He is believed to be a relative of criminal Irfan alias Chhenu Pehalwan, who is already in jail.