Islamist propaganda portal, Maktoob Media, published a video report on 25th April, claiming that two Muslim brothers were thrashed and thrown in a canal over a 'political grudge' in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district.
"Two minor Muslim brothers in Shamli, Uttar Pradesh, were allegedly beaten, thrown into a canal, and stripped naked by men with a political grudge against their family , with police dismissing the incident as a mere debt dispute despite a viral video exposing the horror," a Maktoob Media X post claimed.
It, however, turned out that Maktoob Media was peddling fake news. The official X handle of Shamli Police debunked the Islamist propaganda outlet's lies and detailed the actual specifics of the matter.
The police said that the two brothers seen in the video, named Rihan and Nishan, had taken a debt of around ₹6,400 over the last three months for fast-food items from Hindu eatery owners Nitin and Shivam in Liloun village.
When the Hindu fast-food shop owners confronted the two boys over non-payment of the debt, the latter's father, Momin, filed a police complaint with exaggerated allegations.
"With regard to the matter at hand, it is hereby informed that on March 10, 2026, within the jurisdiction of the Kotwali Shamli Police Station, two children-Rihan and Nishan, sons of Momin (a resident of Liloun village)-had incurred a debt of approximately ₹6,400 over the preceding three months for chowmein, burgers, and other items purchased on credit from a fast-food shop owned by Nitin and Shivam in their village. When the outstanding amount was not paid, Nitin and Shivam reprimanded the two children," the police said.
"In response to this incident, the children’s father, Momin, lodged a complaint with the police, making exaggerated allegations. The police from Kotwali Shamli Police Station visited the scene to conduct an investigation," Shamli Police added.
The police said that Nitin and Shivam have been arrested. However, the allegations of the Hindu men assaulting the Muslim children over political grudges were found to be baseless.
"The inquiry revealed that the incident stemmed from Nitin and Shivam demanding the repayment of the outstanding debt-totaling approximately ₹6,400-for food and beverages purchased on credit by Momin’s two sons, Rihan and Nishan; upon non-payment, the children were reprimanded. Other allegations mentioned in the related tweet were not found to be substantiated. In connection with this case, the Kotwali Shamli Police arrested the accused individuals, Nitin and Shivam, on March 15, 2026, and appropriate legal action has been initiated," the police continued.