Pakistani social media accounts spread false claims online, alleging that an Indian Mi-17 helicopter was recently shot down in Budgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) debunked these claims and exposed the misinformation.
PIB released a fact-check report on Thursday. It clarified that the viral video is six years old and unrelated to any current incident.
The footage, it said, is being misused to spread misleading propaganda and misinformation against India.
PIB stated that several Pakistani propaganda accounts are recirculating an old video on social media. It said these accounts falsely claim that a missile shot down an Indian Mi-17 helicopter.
The bureau confirmed that the footage shows the 2019 crash of an Indian Air Force (IAF) Mi-17 V5 helicopter near Budgam, not a recent attack.
PIB stated that Pakistani accounts deliberately circulated the video to create confusion and malign India’s image.
The agency said, “It is from an earlier incident that took place in 2019, involving an Indian Air Force (IAF) Mi-17 V5 helicopter that crashed near Budgam, J&K.”
PIB said the incident occurred on February 27, 2019, when the helicopter took off from Srinagar airfield at 10 AM for a routine mission.
The aircraft crashed around 10:10 AM, killing all six IAF personnel on board. The authorities ordered a Court of Inquiry at that time to investigate the cause of the crash.
PIB called out the misinformation and warned against spreading fake content. It said such posts aim to create panic and push false narratives about India’s defence forces.
The agency urged citizens to check facts from official sources before sharing unverified material online.
India has repeatedly accused Pakistan-based social media networks of running coordinated disinformation campaigns after sensitive military or political developments.
The PIB Fact Check unit continues to counter Pakistani propaganda and verify misleading posts targeting India and its armed forces.
It reaffirms its commitment to curb the spread of fake news.
Also Read: Fake SMS Alert: PIB Fact Check Warns Against Fraudulent Message Claiming To Be From India Post
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