Like almost everything else in the world, social media too has two sides of the coin. 

One, which is highly informative, keeps you up with the times and helps you stay close to your friends. And the other, which involves online bullying, hate comments, and the spread of misinformation. 

Unfortunately in India, there has been a track record of misinformation remaining prevalent over the recent course of years through apps like Facebook and Whatsapp, to which the country remains the biggest market. 

Following cases of mob-related violence and killings due to the spread of WhatsApp rumors back in 2017, the messaging app,  launched a newspaper advertising campaign warning against fake news and announced changes for its Indian users that labeled forwarded messages into the category of being misinformation. 

However, while things may have slowed down, they surely have refused to come to a permanent halt. 

Recently, a video did rounds of social networking sites, which showed a police officer shooting down a man and his female friend at point-blank range in Haryana. 

The video was shared on Facebook with the claim, which translated to "Policeman committed a murder of two people in broad daylight".

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People watching the gory video were horrified in the manner the two individuals were shot by the official in broad daylight in front of bystanders. 

However, much to everyone's relief, the video was reported to be a part of a web series' shooting in Haryana's Karnal.

Rahul Srivastav, the Additional Superintendent of Police of the Anti-Terrorism Squad in the Haryana state clarified in his tweet that the video was staged. 

"#FactCheck- A video of a gory murder by a cop outside a restaurant is floating since today morning on #socialmedia, triggering queries & confusion. On verification, it’s attributed to a #webseries shot outside ‘Friends Cafe’ in Karnal Haryana as per the manager of the Cafe." he tweeted. 

#FactCheck- A video of a gory murder by a cop outside a restaurant is floating since today morning on #socialmedia, triggering queries & confusion.

On verification, it’s attributed to a #webseries shot outside ‘Friends Cafe’ in Karnal Haryana as per the manager of the Cafe. pic.twitter.com/63GHkScx9j

— RAHUL SRIVASTAV (@upcoprahul) April 12, 2021

Soon after the clarification, social media users took to Twitter to express what they thought about it.

This kind of drama should be banned for general mass consumption and makers of such content should be black/grey listed as they propose filthy mindset and promote crass language.

— Subodh (@___subodh) April 13, 2021

sir, we should discourage people to share this kind of videos and people should be strictly warned for this

— Ashutosh Kumar Rai (@ashutosh_3010) April 12, 2021

This is very much expected from the police in india. Policemen do commit such crimes in india but they are not video taped like this. This is fake, however the scenario is not.

— NB (@nikhilbhalla2) April 12, 2021

This kind of web series should be immediately banned as the same is giving a very wrong massage about our Police Dept and the person shooting it should be arrested immediately for shooting such scene in public place.

— DILIP BHATTACHARYA (@bhattachadilip) April 12, 2021

What the hell, look at that small kid standing over there, that actress said some words and the violence created by the director , what kind of effects will that child suffer? You can not show such to kids man, Look at her reaction when cop shot that girl dead.

— Ameya P (@AmeyaPrabhawal1) April 12, 2021

This type of #webseries should be banned. Because it'll make bad impact on citizens. The #Police department is always for safety of our citizens not to hurt them. pic.twitter.com/VFyTqFNr5C

— PRONIT.EXE (@NPronit) April 12, 2021

Even this is ONE lousiest way, that they use to create "mongering" awareness. Probably the police force adjudicated to that region / place should take offence of this mongering & file a case to the Media house & its PR to book, immediately

— RK (@myrkrish) April 12, 2021

Then, someone shared what most of us would think when witnessing such a gruesome incident.

Sir, Now a days, there are number of such shootings happen in the Country.The videos are so Violent/ Dangerous and it is very difficult to identify the genuineness.
The blind Social media peoples, without applying their mind, make them viral at Public domain.
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— Jitendra Chaturvedi (Official Account)️🔴🇮🇳 (@Jitendr37502078) April 12, 2021

Surely, the video was not taken in good taste. Let us know what you think of it. 

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