JAMMU: Several major Indian news outlets are under scrutiny after incorrectly identifying a civilian victim of cross-border shelling as a terrorist killed during Operation Sindoor.
On May 7-8, 2025, during a period of heightened tension along the Line of Control (LoC), Pakistani forces conducted intense artillery and mortar shelling in Poonch district of Jammu & Kashmir. The shelling targeted civilian areas including homes, schools, and religious institutions, resulting in 15 civilian casualties, including three women and six children.
Among those killed was Maulana Mohammad Iqbal, a 46-year-old religious teacher who had taught at Madrasa Zia-ul-Uloom in Poonch city for approximately 25 years. He was widely respected in the local community as a Quran scholar.
The Misinformation
Following these events, several media outlets including Republic, CNN-News 18, India News, ABP News, and Zee News aired segments and published reports incorrectly identifying Maulana Mohammad Iqbal as a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist. These reports claimed he was killed during Operation Sindoor at a terror camp in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The news organisations broadcast images of the deceased with a bloodied face, labeling him as a terrorist eliminated in the military operation. This false narrative spread rapidly across television and social media platforms.
Officials Refute Claims
The Poonch Police issued an official statement on May 8, 2025, categorically refuting these claims.
"Poonch Police strongly refutes such false narrative. The deceased, Maulana Mohd Iqbal, was a respected religious figure in the local community and had no affiliation with any terror outfit. Misreporting of such sensitive incidents not only causes unnecessary panic but also disrespects the dignity of the deceased and the sentiments of the bereaved family," the statement said
The police statement confirmed that Maulana Iqbal died as a direct result of cross-border shelling by Pakistan while at the madrasa in Poonch city. The police warned that legal action could be taken against those responsible for spreading misinformation.
Family Response
The family of Maulana Mohammad Iqbal expressed their profound distress at seeing their loved one falsely portrayed as a terrorist on national television.
His nephew, Tariq Manzoor, who serves as the sarpanch of Baila, stated, "He was the Qari-e-Quran in Jamia Ziaul Uloom for the past 25 years, and is a reputed scholar in the region... we were shocked and deeply hurt to see his face being telecast in mainstream media channels as a terrorist. The whole family and the locality is mourning his loss."
The family released a video demanding action against media outlets that shared the false claims, emphasizing that he was a Mudarris (teacher) killed by Pakistani shelling, not a terrorist.
“It was a very unfortunate incident. This is fake news targeting him. He was killed in the shelling from the Pakistan side yesterday morning. He is a reputed man well known in Poonch and is part of an institution called Jamia Ziaul Uloom. He was a close contact of my cousin who also runs an educational institution and was well respected in the community,” said Majid Nazir, advocate, Poonch.
Media Response
Following public backlash and the official police statement, some news outlets including Zee News and News18 India deleted their posts without issuing formal corrections or apologies. This has raised concerns about accountability and journalistic ethics during sensitive reporting situations.
Broader Context
This misreporting occurred against the backdrop of ‘Operation Sindoor’, a precision strike conducted by India at several locations in Pakistan. The operation has generated intense media coverage, with some outlets potentially rushing to report details without proper verification.
Media ethics experts note that this incident highlights the dangers of hasty reporting during military operations and cross-border tensions, particularly when identifying casualties. The misidentification of civilians as combatants can cause lasting harm to families and communities while undermining public trust in media institutions.
The Poonch incident serves as a reminder of the critical importance of thorough fact-checking and verification processes in conflict reporting, especially when making claims about the identities of those killed in such sensitive circumstances.
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