Enemy Within: Indian TV Channels Air Doctored Content, Amplify Pakistani Agenda
Avinash Azad
Amidst heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following India’s precision strikes on terror launch pads inside Pakistani territory on Wednesday, a coordinated and malicious disinformation campaign has been unleashed by Pakistan, aimed at triggering panic and fear among Indian citizens. The Indian Government, however, has swiftly moved to counter these false narratives with verified facts.
In a significant development, Col Sunil Bartwal, PRO Defence Jammu, this morning shared a detailed list of fake news content fact-checked by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) as of 6:30 a.m. on May 9, 2025. The list serves as a vital tool to counter psychological warfare being waged by Pakistan through both mainstream and social media platforms.
“A barrage of coordinated disinformation has been carried out by certain social media handles in general and mainstream media in particular in Pakistan with the sole objective to instill fear among the Indian masses,” read the PIB media brief shared by Col Bartwal.
According to the PIB Fact Check Unit, seven major pieces of fake news and doctored videos were debunked between 10:00 p.m. on May 8 and 6:30 a.m. on May 9. Key among them:
🔴 Fake Drone Attack in Jalandhar
A viral video claimed a drone attack in Punjab’s Jalandhar, causing widespread panic. PIB’s investigation revealed it to be a ‘farm fire’, unrelated to any military action. The timing (7:39 p.m.) didn’t coincide with any drone activity.
[Fact Check](https://x.com/PIBFactCheck/status/1920573308502004108)
🔴 Fake Claim of Destroyed Indian Post
A fabricated video claimed destruction of a post manned by the non-existent “20 Raj Battalion”—a unit that does not exist in the Indian Army. The video was deemed staged and flagged.
[Fact Check](https://x.com/PIBFactCheck/status/1920563445700890909)
🔴Old Beirut Explosion Passed Off as Missile Attack on India
A chilling video claiming to show a Pakistani missile strike on India turned out to be “a clip from the 2020 Beirut blast”.
[Fact Check](https://x.com/PIBFactCheck/status/1920549148438245721)
🔴False Report of Fidayeen Attack in Rajouri
Posts claiming a suicide attack on an Army Brigade in Rajouri were thoroughly debunked. No such incident occurred.
[Fact Check](https://x.com/PIBFactCheck/status/1920533172405592286)
🔴 Forged Letter in Name of Army Chief
A fake confidential letter was circulated in the name of CoAS Gen V.K. Narayan—who isn’t the Army Chief. The document was entirely fabricated.
[Fact Check](https://x.com/PIBFactCheck/status/1920521614908928063)
🔴 Baseless Claim of Ambala Airbase Attacking Amritsar
An absurd post alleged that India attacked its own city using the Ambala Airbase. The claim was flagged as part of an orchestrated propaganda effort.
[MoD Clarification](https://x.com/PIBFactCheck/status/1920506467536564710)
🔴 Fake News on Airport Entry Bans
Rumours about a nationwide ban on airport entries were confirmed false. No such order has been issued by the government.
[Fact Check](https://x.com/PIBFactCheck/status/1920536096951210303)
Col Bartwal reiterated that such psychological operations are a direct threat to public order and national morale, and urged citizens to rely only on verified information from PIB and official Defence sources.
“We are in a sensitive situation. Misinformation is as dangerous as actual threats. Public must stay vigilant and avoid falling prey to enemy propaganda,” he cautioned.
The PIB has reaffirmed its commitment to “protect national integrity”, calling on media houses and the public alike to “fact-check before sharing” any content related to national security.
As tensions simmer along the border, the battlefront has expanded into the digital space. The Indian defence and information agencies’ agile response to this new-age warfare underlines their preparedness—not just on ground, but also online. Unfortunately, several Indian news TV channels have aired doctored content and misinformation in pursuit of TRPs. Unethical reporting by some of the country’s leading media houses has overshadowed the efforts of government fact-checking agencies and responsible individuals. This inadvertently serves Pakistan’s agenda amid the ongoing tensions.
📍 Stay updated with The Hidden News for real-time verified developments from Jammu & Kashmir and beyond.
