No, this image does not show wrestler Sakshi Malik being pinned down by a police with his boot – FactCrescendo | The leading fact-checking website in India

The person in the image is Ranjit Singh, who was pinned down during the farmers’ protest in 2021 for attacking police personnel.

Amid the inauguration of the new parliament building on Sunday wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar were detained by security personnel as they tried to march the venue. Vinesh Phogat, Sangeeta Phogat, and Sakshi Malik were detained at Jantar Mantar by Delhi Police. Among the many photos of the detention that were widely shared on social media was a particularly violent one of a policeman’s boot pressed against the face of a person. People claimed that the person in the photo was Malik.

The picture is being shared with the caption, “This is Sakshee Malikkh who won the first Olympic medal in women’s wrestling for the country. Such a picture was not seen even in Taliban. Is the country’s land alive or dead or has it been sold!! #Wrestlers Protest”.

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Fact Check- 

A reverse image search of the viral image led us to a February 2021Times of India report that included the same image. According to the report the image showed 22-year-old Ranjit Singh’s face being crushed under a cop’s boot. It was reportedly shot during a mob attack on the farmers’ protest at the Singhu border. Delhi Police accused Ranjit of attacking an SHO with his sword and injuring him. He, along with 43 others, was arrested by Delhi Police the same day under various sections, including the attempt to murder.

In further search we found Deccan Herald article with the same image along with a report on the farmers’ protest from Delhi’s Singhu border on 29 January, 2021. The picture was published with the caption, “Police pin down a farmer, who allegedly attacked Police SHO (Alipur) Pradeep Paliwal, during clashes between people claiming to be local villagers and farmers at the Singhu Border.”

According to a News 18 report from 30 January, 2021 quotes a senior police officer speaking about the incident who said that Singh was arrested for attacking the SHO of Alipur police station with a sword.

Conclusion-

Fact Crescendo discovered that the claim made in the viral image to be False. This picture is of the farmers’ protest in the year 2021. It has nothing to do with Sakshi Malik or the wrestlers’ protest.

Title:No, this image does not show wrestler Sakshi Malik being pinned down by a police with his boot

Written By: Usha Manoj 

Result: False