Beware Of These 16 Claims On Social Media. Fact-Checking Fake News Amid India-Pak Tensions
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The Press Information Bureau issued a statement on Friday, May 9, detailing 16 incidents it had fact-checked. The purpose was to clarify the facts and dispel misinformation.
Indian media and social media users have been falling for misinformation, the PIB noted while fact-checking fake news.
Pakistan, which seems to be jittery after India’s retaliatory strikes, has turned to disseminating fake news and misinformation online. It is concocting tales of extraordinary military triumphs to intentionally mislead the media, distort the international narrative, and manipulate public perception.
The Press Information Bureau issued a statement on Friday, May 9, detailing 16 incidents it had fact-checked. The purpose was to clarify the facts and dispel misinformation, disinformation, and outright falsehoods.
“This psychological warfare has been actively debunked by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) for the last few weeks. In addition, Indian media and social media users have been falling for misinformation,” the PIB release noted.
PIB Has Fact-Checked These 16 Incidents:
1) Pakistan-based handles are spreading old videos falsely alleging strikes on a military base in Amritsar.
⚠️Pakistan Propaganda Alert!Pakistan-based handles are spreading old videos falsely alleging strikes on a military base in Amritsar. #PIBFactCheck
✔️The video being shared is from a wildfire from 2024
✅ Avoid sharing unverified information and rely only on official… pic.twitter.com/1FdtfXUqEY
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 8, 2025
2) Pakistan-based handles are sharing an old image claiming that the Pakistan Army has intercepted a UAV drone that fell in Gujranwala, Pakistan.
Did this Indian drone really get intercepted in Pakistan❓Pakistan-based handles are sharing an old image claiming that the Pakistan Army has intercepted a UAV drone that fell in Gujranwala, Pakistan.#PIBFactCheck
✅ The image being circulated is from the Ukraine-Russia… pic.twitter.com/XdY1D9ZmuQ
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 8, 2025
3) Viral Video Alert! Truth Behind the Aircraft Crash Linked to #OperationSindoor!
Viral Video Alert! Truth Behind the Aircraft Crash Linked to #OperationSindoor!Pakistani social media accounts are recycling an old video and sharing it in the present context.#PIBFactCheck
✅ The video is from an earlier incident from 2019, involving an Indian Air Force… pic.twitter.com/md42wWpxO2
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 8, 2025
4) An old video is being shared to show a Pakistani attack on an Indian military colony.
⚠️ Don’t Fall for Misinformation!An old video is being shared to show a Pakistani attack on an Indian military colony.#PIBFactCheck
❌ This video is from Indonesia, dated 6th May 2025, and was recorded before #OperationSindoor was even launched.
🔍 Stay informed. Share… pic.twitter.com/ijE8Dymp02
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 8, 2025
5) Pakistan-based handles are circulating a video claiming that the Pakistan Army strikes posts in Battal Sector, Jammu & Kashmir, eliminating at least 12 Indian soldiers.
Pakistan-based handles are circulating a video claiming that the Pakistan Army strikes posts in Battal Sector, Jammu & Kashmir, eliminating at least 12 Indian soldiers.#PIBFactCheck✅This video is old and NOT related to any activity post #OperationSindoor
✅This image is… pic.twitter.com/n4mWxr21jw
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 8, 2025
6) Several Pakistan-based handles are circulating an #old image that claims that a Pakistani missile has hit an Indian S-400
7) Social Media post falsely claims India targeted the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project in #Pakistan.
Social Media post falsely claims India targeted the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project in #Pakistan. #PIBFactCheck ✅ This claim is baseless.
✅ Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has clearly stated in a press conference that India has only targeted terrorist infrastructure.… pic.twitter.com/6GMVoLMIS4
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 8, 2025
8) A social media post falsely claims that the Indian military used Ambala Airbase to attack #Amritsar and its own citizens.
A social media post falsely claims that the Indian military used Ambala Airbase to attack #Amritsar and its own citizens.🔍 #PIBFactCheck:
✅ This claim is completely baseless and part of a concerted misinformation campaign.
Read more about #Pakistan attack on Amritsar👇… pic.twitter.com/C2NnXPjkgF
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 8, 2025
9) A letter is being shared on Social Media claiming that Chief of the Army Staff Gen V.K. Narayan has sent a confidential letter regarding military preparedness to the Army officer of Northern Command.
A letter is being shared on Social Media claiming that Chief of the Army Staff Gen V.K. Narayan has sent a confidential letter regarding military preparedness to the Army officer of Northern Command. #PIBFactCheck ✅ This letter is completely Fake.
✅ Gen. V.K. Narayan is… pic.twitter.com/OvDxaql3kz
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 8, 2025
10) Fake news is circulating about a “fidayeen” attack on an Army brigade in #Rajouri, #Jammu and #Kashmir.
11) Social media posts are claiming that entry to airports across India banned
12) An #old video is being shared on #SocialMedia with the claim that #Pakistan has launched a missile attack on India in retaliation.
13) Fake video is being circulated by Pakistani handles alleging that an Indian Post was destroyed by the #Pakistani Army
🚨 Staged Video Alert 🚨Fake video is being circulated by Pakistani handles alleging that an Indian Post was destroyed by the #Pakistani Army
✅ The claim is completely false, and the video is staged
❌ There is no unit called “20 Raj Battalion” in the… pic.twitter.com/959rc9OrTH
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 8, 2025
14) This drone strike video from #Jalandhar is widely circulating on social media
Drone Attack in Jalandhar⁉️This drone strike video from #Jalandhar is widely circulating on social media#PIBFactCheck
* This is an unrelated video of a farm fire. The video has the time 7:39 PM, while the drone attack began later.
* Do not share this video. See the… pic.twitter.com/IRBjq2KOTQ
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 8, 2025
15) This video is widely circulating on social media with a claim that Hazira Port in #Gujarat has been attacked
This video is widely circulating on social media with a claim that Hazira Port in #Gujarat has been attacked #PIBFactCheck* This is an unrelated video confirmed to depict an oil tanker explosion. The video is dated July 7, 2021.
* Do not share this video. Refer the link… pic.twitter.com/nlQwgVAj3k
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 9, 2025
16) An old image is being circulated with false claims of multiple explosions at the Jammu Air Force Base in India.
❓Explosion at Jammu Air Force Base? Here’s the truth! An old image is being circulated with false claims of multiple explosions at the Jammu Air Force Base in India.#PIBFactCheck
✅ This image is from the Kabul Airport blast in August 2021.
✅ Here’s a report from that… pic.twitter.com/y99zbukBGM
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) May 9, 2025
The efforts of the PIB Fact Check unit in debunking fake news and dispelling myths have been vital in helping citizens distinguish between facts and false information, especially in these times.
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