No, This Man Isn’t Wearing CPI(M)’s Mask; Image is Edited

The original image, found on several meme-hosting websites, has been flipped and edited to make the false claim.

The original image has been edited to make a false claim.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

An image of a man wearing a mask made out of ‘Fort Styllo’ briefs has been edited to falsely claim that he’s wearing a Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s mask.

We found the original image on several meme-hosting websites, dating back to May 2020, which has been flipped and edited to make the false claim.

CLAIM

The image was shared with the caption, “सी .पी .एम .मास्क.” (Translation: “C.P.M Mask”).

An archived version can be viewed here.(Source: Facebook/Screenshot)

An archived version can be viewed here.(Source: Facebook/Screenshot)

An archived version can be viewed here.(Source: Twitter/Screenshot)

An archived version can be viewed here.(Source: Twitter/Screenshot)

WHAT WE FOUND

A reverse image search on Yandex led us to a website, ‘Odd Stuff Magazine’ which carried the original image in May 2020.

The original image has been flipped and photoshopped. A comparison of the original image, its flipped version and the viral edited image can be seen below.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

We also found the image on Russian social media sites and Polish sites.

Evidently, the original image has been edited to look like the man is wearing a CPI(M) mask, made out of briefs.

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