Overview

• Maulana Mohammad Iqbal, a respected religious figure, was killed in Pakistani cross-border shelling in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir, along with 12 others.
• Police clarified that Iqbal had no links to terrorism, countering false media claims that misidentified him as a militant killed in an Indian military operation.
• Media outlets, including Zee News and News18, retracted or corrected their reports after being called out for spreading misinformation.
• Authorities emphasized that misreporting such incidents disrespects victims, causes public panic, and violates laws governing public order and national security.
• Legal warnings have been issued to media platforms and individuals propagating fake news, urging them to verify facts from official sources before publication.