No 'fidayeen' attack, no strike on Hazira port: PIB counters fake news flooding social media amid India-Pakistan tensions

NEW DELHI: Press Information Bureau's Fact Check Unit has been on a constant debunking job for the last few days, disproving fabricated videos and fake news running on X accounts claiming that India's port in Gujarat was attacked, drone attack in Jalandhar and suicide attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, among other news.


Indian post destroyed?

An Indian post was claimed to be destroyed by the Pakistani army in one of the fake videos spread online. The video was shared and amplified by a number of fake and unverified accounts.

PIB found the claim to be completely false and confirmed it to be staged upon verification since there is no unit called “20 Raj Battalion" in the Indian Army. "Staged Video Alert. Fake video is being circulated by Pakistani handles alleging that an Indian post was destroyed by the Pakistani Army. PIB Fact Check: The claim is completely false, and the video is staged. There is no unit called '20 Raj Battalion' in the Indian Army. This is part of a coordinated propaganda campaign aimed at creating panic and misleading the public," it said.


Is there a ban on entering airports?

A social media post was allegedly shared claiming that entry bans into airports across India. PIB busted and debunked the fake narrative and flagged the same since there was no such decision taken from the government.

"Fake News Alert. Social media posts are claiming that entry to airports across India has been banned. #PIBFactCheck. This claim is FAKE. The government has taken no such decision," tweeted PIB on X.


Fidayeen attack on Army?

Information regarding a fidayeen attack on an Army brigade in J&K's Rajouri was widely shared and circulated. Upon fact-checking, PIB confirmed that no such fidayeen or suicide attack occurred on any army cantonment. The false claims was solely intented to mislead and cause confusion. The video was accordingly flagged.

Debunking false narrative being run on suicide attacks under the name of 'fidayeen', PIB said, "Fake news is circulating about a "fidayeen" attack on an Army brigade in Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir. PIB Fact Check: No such 'fidayeen' or suicide attack has occurred on any army cantt. Do not fall for these false claims intended to mislead and cause confusion."


Attack on Hazira port in Gujarat?
Another fake news running on Twitter claimed that Gujarat's Hazira Port has been attacked but PIB fact check investigation confirmed that the video being shared on social media is that of an oil tanker explosion and not attack by Pakistan.

"This video is widely circulating on social media with a claim that Hazira Port in Gujarat has been attacked. This is an unrelated video confirmed to depict an oil tanker explosion. The video is dated July 7, 2021. Do not share this video," said PIB fact check on X.


Drone attack in Jalandhar?
A video of a drone attack in Jalandhar was widely being circulated to create a panic among the masses. PIB investigated the video and found that it was an unrelated video of a farm fire. The video had the timeline of 7.39 pm, while the drone attack began later. The same was backed by the DC of Jalandhar.

PIB on X said, "This drone strike video from Jalandhar is widely circulating on social media PIB Fact Check. 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 clarification from DC, Jalandhar below."


Missile attack on India?

An old video was shared on Social Media with the claim that Pakistan has launched a missile attack on India in retaliation. PIB upon fact-checking the video busted the disinformation. The video shared was actually of the explosive attack that took place in Beirut, Lebanon in the year 2020.

"An old video is being shared on social media with the claim that Pakistan has launched a missile attack on India in retaliation. PIB Fact Check: The video being shared is of the explosive attack that took place in Beirut, Lebanon in the year 2020 Don't fall for the propaganda being spread by Pakistani handles. Rely only on official information," govt said on X.


These developments follow heightened India-Pakistan tensions after the army conducted precision strikes under Operation Sindoor on May 7 in response to terror attacks on April 22 in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 people including a Nepali citizen.


The operation targeted nine terror facilities in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), the government informed in media briefing. The military action focused on destroying infrastructure associated with terrorist organisations including Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed.
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