India Cracks Down on Anti-India Propaganda After Missile Strikes
Following Operation Sindoor, India’s largest military operation in recent years, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a directive to all states to ramp up their efforts against anti-national propaganda online. This comes in response to a surge of misinformation from Pakistan following India’s missile strikes on terror camps across the border.
Taking Action Against Fake News
The MHA is urging authorities to take swift action against accounts spreading false narratives about the operation or India’s security situation. This includes immediately blocking social media accounts both within India and internationally that are found disseminating such propaganda. The government cites Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which allows for the restriction of online content in the interest of national security or public order.
Strengthening Security Measures
The MHA also stressed the importance of close coordination between local administration, armed forces, and paramilitary units in border regions. Enhanced communication links between the Centre and states, particularly those with vulnerable areas, are also being emphasized.
Operation Sindoor: A Response to Terrorism
Operation Sindoor, launched in the early hours of Wednesday, involved a joint strike by the Army and Air Force targeting nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). This operation was a direct response to the Pahalgam terror attack that tragically claimed 26 lives. According to the Centre, the strikes resulted in the elimination of over 90 terrorists and targeted infrastructure linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen – groups responsible for attacks on Indian soil.
Countering Misinformation
Pakistan condemned the operation as an “act of war,” leading to a wave of misinformation on social media. Pro-Pakistan accounts spread false claims, including the downing of Indian jets and the capture of Indian soldiers. These claims were promptly debunked by India. One viral post, for instance, falsely claimed that the Pakistan Army had shot down an Indian Rafale fighter jet near Bahawalpur, using an image from a completely unrelated 2021 incident. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also made a false claim about Indian soldiers being taken prisoner, a statement he later retracted.
To combat this surge of misinformation, the MHA has instructed states to raise public awareness and prevent panic by swiftly and effectively countering rumors.
