Govt debunks fake news; attacks on army brigade in Rajouri, Hazira port false
PIB Fact Check Unit identified and debunked a series of misleading and false claims that surfaced on social media, with many originating from Pakistani handles
Military escalations along the India-Pakistan frontier on Thursday (May 8) evening marked one of the most intense military face-offs between the two nuclear-armed neighbours in recent years.
The claims on social media about attacks on certain Indian targets peaked as India on Thursday thwarted Pakistan's attempts to target its military sites, including in Jammu, Pathankot, Udhampur, Uttarlai and Bhuj, with drones and missiles as tensions soared between the two countries amid fears of a wider military conflict.
Misinformation on social media range from a suicide attack on an army brigade in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri to claims that Hazira port in Gujarat was attacked.
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check Unit identified and debunked a series of misleading and false claims that surfaced on social media, many originating from Pakistani handles or being amplified by Indian users unaware of their inauthenticity. Here are some of the fake claims that PIB debunked:
Suicide attack in J&K's Rajouri
The government on Friday dismissed claims of a suicide attack on an Army brigade in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri by certain social media handles as "fake news".
The PIB's Fact Check Unit found that there was no "fidayeen" or suicide attack on any Army cantonment in J&K.
Drone attack in Jalandhar
A video claiming to be that of a drone attack in Jalandhar actually pertained to a farm fire. The PIB fact checking unit found that the video depicted a farm fire recorded at 7:39 pm, before any confirmed aerial activity.
Meanwhile, the deputy commissioner of Jalandar posted on X that "all drones have been neutralised at 11.20 pm in Jalandhar", as per official sources.
Misinformation in Gujarat
A video was widely circulating on social media with a claim that Hazira Port in Gujarat has been attacked
Indian army post destroyed
Missile attack on India
However the video being shared is of the explosive attack that took place in Beirut in Lebanon in 2020.
All airports closed in India
According to PIB fact check unit, social media posts are claiming that entry to airports across India closed are fake. The government has taken no such decision.
Meanwhile, the government has requested citizens to refrain from sharing unverified content.
(With inputs from agencies)