Press Information Bureau’s Fact Check Unit has been working continuously to counter a wave of doctored news and staged videos on social media. Over the past few days, several unverified X (formerly Twitter) accounts have posted false visuals claiming incidents like drone attacks in Jalandhar, suicide strikes in Jammu and Kashmir, and an attack on Gujarat’s Hazira Port.
One very popular and viral video reported that an Indian army outpost had been destroyed by the Pakistani Army. This video went viral under the heading ‘Operation Sindoor’. PIB, however, dismissed the claim, saying, ‘Staged Video Alert. Fake video is being shared by Pakistani handles claiming that an Indian post was targeted by the Pakistani Army.’
PIB Fact Check: The claim is absolutely false, and the video is staged. There is no ’20 Raj Battalion’ unit in the Indian Army. This is part of a well-coordinated propaganda campaign with an intention to spread panic and mislead people.”
Old and Misleading Videos Used as Fake Evidence
Among the several false narratives, a widely circulated video alleged a missile attack on India by Pakistan. PIB explained that the video was not from India, but actually a video of the Beirut explosion in Lebanon in 2020. ‘A vintage video is being circulated on social media claiming that Pakistan has retaliated against India with a missile attack.’
PIB Fact Check: The video being circulated is of the explosive attack which occurred in Beirut, Lebanon in the year 2020. Don’t be misled by the propaganda being disseminated by Pakistani handles. Believe only in official reports,” the agency said.
In the same vein, footage of an explosion at Hazira Port in Gujarat was misleadingly reported as an attack. PIB attested that the video was unrelated and dated July 7, 2021, when an oil tanker exploded. “This video is being widely shared on social media with a false claim that Hazira Port in Gujarat has been attacked. This is an unrelated video attested to show an oil tanker explosion. Do not share this video,” they stated.
Another hoax was a claimed drone attack in Jalandhar. On verification, PIB discovered the video to be of a farm fire and found inconsistencies in the timeline of the video. “This Jalandhar drone strike video is going viral on social media PIB Fact Check. This is a separate video of a fire at a farm. The video is timestamped 7.39 PM, whereas the drone attack commenced later on. Don’t share this video. Check out the clarification by DC, Jalandhar below.”
Army and Airport Related Rumours
Some other viral posts reported that a fidayeen (suicide) attack had been launched on an Army brigade in Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir. PIB rejected the claim saying, ‘Fake news being spread about a ‘fidayeen’ attack on an Army brigade in Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir.’
PIB Fact Check: No such ‘fidayeen’ or suicide attack has been carried out on any army cantt. Do not believe such false reports aimed at misleading and creating confusion.”
Rumors also emerged stating prohibition on entry to airports all over India. Denying the rumour, PIB tweeted: “Fake News Alert. Social media messages are stating that entry to airports all over India has been prohibited. #PIBFactCheck. This is FAKE. No such decision has been taken by the government.”
These false reports came soon after India conducted surgical strikes under Operation Sindoor on May 7 in response to the April 22 terror attacks in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 individuals, including a Nepali citizen. The military operation was aimed at nine terror infrastructure sites in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), linked with groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.