Communal

Communal means relations, interaction, and, at times, conflict between various religious, ethnic, or cultural groups found in a community in a sociopolitical context. It refers to all the divisions that can polarize or create conflict if prone to misuse, and also to the variety that contributes to the rich texture of society. It particularly applies to pluralist countries where individuals of different faiths, nationalities, and identities live side by side. For example, India has been home to people who are significantly different from one another in terms of their religion, language, as well as culture, for a very long time. The practice of dividing people for social or political reasons, known as communalism, has occasionally led to conflict and unrest even though diversity is a strength.

Communalism arises when a sense of group identity dominates all other perspectives while analyzing societal and political issues. Sometimes communalism exploits differences for ideological or political gain rather than encouraging harmony and mutual respect. Political players and organizations frequently use common religious, ethnic, or cultural identities to organize populations, often creating a narrative of "us versus them." Although this tactic works well for bringing people together, it usually makes things worse and causes relations between communities to deteriorate.

Communism is evident when the organizations have systems that prioritize the feeling of community first, frequently at the detriment of others. This has resulted in riots, violence, and tensions between communities, particularly in India, where political manipulation and old grievances have frequently made animosity worse. Headlines are typically dominated by high-profile instances of community violence, including riots or hate crimes, which emphasize the necessity of stricter laws to foster harmony and respect for one another.

BOOM has debunked many false claims related to communal issues. For example, BOOM factcheck a viral video claiming that a Durga idol was vandalized by Muslims in Hyderabad. BOOM found out that the incident had no communal angle, as clarified by Begum Bazar Police SHO G. Vijay Kumar. The accused, Krishnaiah Goud, was found to be suffering from a mental health condition and was undergoing treatment, disproving the communal narrative.

In another case, BOOM fact-checked a viral video claiming that three Muslim children in India were vandalizing railway tracks with malicious intent. BOOM found that the video was not from India but from Karachi, Pakistan. In December 2023, Karachi Police arrested three children for stealing nuts and bolts from a railway track. They were later released and handed over to their parents with a warning, debunking the claim's communal undertone.

Similarly, BOOM investigated a claim suggesting that Hindu students were attacked by members of Jamat-e-Islami at Dhaka's Hindu hostel. BOOM found out that the incident actually occurred in Chittagong, where 21 leaders and party workers from the Chhatra League were pushed from the terrace of a five-story building during a political clash and there was no communal narrative attached to the incident.