'Exercise caution': India fact-checks fake news and misinformation by Pakistan on social media

NEW DELHI: Press Information Bureau on Wednesday fact-checked multiple social media posts from Pakistani users spreading fake news and misinformation about the Indian army in the wake of Pahalgam attack and an anticipated Indian retaliation.

In a social media post on X, PIB's fact check arm flagged the "false" report claiming that Northern Commander Lt Gen Suchindra Kumar has been removed from his post after the Pahalgam incident.

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"Several pro-Pakistan social media accounts falsely claim that Northern Commander Lt Gen Suchindra Kumar has been removed from his post after the Pahalgam incident," PIB said.

Several pro-Pakistan social media accounts falsely claim that Northern Commander Lt Gen Suchindra Kumar has been removed from his post after the Pahalgam incident#PIBFactCheck

❌ The claims being made in these posts are #fake

✅ Lt. Gen MV Suchindra Kumar is attaining… pic.twitter.com/MogYJABl1Z

— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) April 30, 2025

"The claims being made in these posts are fake. Lt. Gen MV Suchindra Kumar is attaining superannuation on April 30.Lt Gen Pratik Sharma will be appointed as the new Northern Army Commander," it added.

Earlier, PIB fact-checked claims that Pakistan had shot down an Indian Rafale fighter jet along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch sector of Kashmir. It advised users to exercise caution while sharing unverified claims circulating on social media platforms.

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"Several pro-Pakistan social media accounts are falsely claiming that Pakistan has shot down an Indian Rafale fighter jet along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch sector of Kashmir," PIB said.

Several pro-Pakistan social media accounts are falsely claiming that Pakistan has shot down an Indian Rafale fighter jet along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch sector of Kashmir.#PIBFactCheck

❌ Pakistan Army has NOT shot down any Indian fighter jet.

✅ The video… pic.twitter.com/V7JqunjTmY

— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) April 29, 2025

"Pakistan Army has NOT shot down any Indian fighter jet. The video shared is of a Sukhoi-30MKI fighter jet that crashed in Maharashtra in June 2024. Users are advised to exercise caution while sharing unverified claims circulating on social media platforms," it added.

This comes amid the government's ongoing crackdown on sources which are disseminating provocative, communally sensitive content, as well as false and misleading narratives and misinformation against India.

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Earlier on the recommendation of the MHA, the government banned 16 Pakistani YouTube channels targeting Dawn News, Samaa TV, Ary News, Geo News, and individual creators like former cricketer Shoaib Akhtar.