Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
Indian army soldiers dead in the recent Reasi terror attack.
Fact
Terrorists opened fire at a passenger bus, leaving at least nine civilians dead. The incident did not have any casualty from the armed forces.
Several social media users, including verified handles, shared an image of men in military fatigue inspecting a bus, claiming that Indian army soldiers were killed in a recent terror attack at Reasi in Jammu and Kashmir. These users further alleged that the local police confirmed that ten soldiers were killed in the terror attack.
However, Newschecker found the claim to be untrue. While there were no reports of any attack on a vehicle carrying army soldiers, terrorists did open fire at a passenger bus in Reasi, which left at least 9 civilians dead.
Such posts can be seen here, here and here.
Fact Check/Verification
A Google lens search on the image associated with the viral claim led us to a video report by Euronews, dated July 2, 2014. Carrying the same image, the report stated, “In Afghanistan, at least eight people have been killed and 13 others wounded after a suicide bomber attacked a military bus in Kabul. The explosion took place in a heavily secured area of the city near the capital’s university. The Taliban has admitted being behind the attack.”
A BBC report on the same July 2014 attack on a military bus in Kabul featured the viral image too. “As a result of a suicide attack this morning on an ANA [Afghan National Army] air force bus in Kabul, eight army officers were martyred and 13 wounded,” defence ministry spokesman General Zahir Azimi said in a statement, reported the outlet.
Hence, we could conclude that neither is the image recent, nor does it relate to any terror attack on the Indian soldiers.
Terror Attack On Passenger Bus In Reasi, Not Army Vehicle
We looked up keywords “Reasi,” and “terror attack” on Google, which yielded multiple reports from the past 24 hours on a terror attack on a bus carrying pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday.
At least nine were dead, and several injured after terrorists opened fire on a passenger bus in the Reasi district. Due to the firing, the driver lost control of the vehicle and it plunged into a gorge near the Teryath village of the Poni area.
The ambush happened when the bus carrying the pilgrims was on its way to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra from Shiv Khori temple. DCP Reasi Vishesh Paul Mahajan said all nine victims, including the driver and the conductor of the bus, were identified, reported PTI.
The Reasi District Police also confirmed on social media that a terrorist attack had taken place targeting a ‘yatra bus’. “Due to the attack, the bus lost control and bus fell into the deep gorge near kanda area of Pouni Reasi, (sic)” the police said in a Facebook post.
There are no reports of any such attack on any army vehicle in Reasi. Additionally, the X handle associated with the Indian Army is devoid of any such information either.
Also Read: 2006 Photo From Anti-Mosquito Spray Ad Campaign Falsely Linked To Kangana Ranaut Slap Row
Conclusion
We could thus conclude that an old image from Afghanistan has been shared to falsely claim an attack on a bus carrying army soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir. Civilians were actually killed in the recent Reasi terror attack.
Result: False
Sources
YouTube Video By Euronews, Dated July 2, 2014
Report By BBC, Dated July 2, 2014
Report By PTI, Dated June 10, 2024
Facebook Post By @reasipolice, Dated June 9, 2024
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
