Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
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
Interpol has issued a “Wanted Notice” against Union home minister Amit Shah for allegedly approving a series of plots targeting Khalistani separatists inside Canada.
Fact
No such notice was issued.
Several social media users, mostly Pakistan-based accounts, are circulating a graphic card, claiming that the Interpol has issued a ‘Wanted Notice’ against Union home minister Amit Shah after a Canadian official recently alleged that Shah had ordered a campaign of violence, intimidation and intelligence gathering, targeting Khalistani separatists inside Canada.
The archived version of the post can be seen here.
Canada’s Allegations Against Shah
The Canadian government has reportedly publicly alleged that India’s home affairs minister, Amit Shah was behind a recent series of plots to murder and intimidate Sikh separatists on Canadian soil. Testifying before a parliamentary committee, the Canadian deputy foreign affairs minister, David Morrison, acknowledged he had leaked information to the Washington Post about Shah’s alleged role in a campaign of violence and threats against the Sikh diaspora over the last few years.
Morrison, who was appearing at the committee about the escalation of a diplomatic dispute between India and Canada two weeks ago, gave no further details on how Canadian officials had linked Shah to the investigation. The MEA, which didn’t immediately respond to the allegations last Wednesday, has previously dismissed Canada’s accusations that India’s government was involved in the alleged attacks against Sikh activists, calling them “baseless.”
Fact Check
Newschecker first ran a keyword search for “Interpol notice Amit Shah”, which did not throw up any credible news reports, both Indian and global, about such a major story, raising our doubts on the authenticity of the claim.
We then looked for the purported red notice — a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action — on Interpol’s website, which did not lead us to any such circular. A keyword search for “Amit Shah”, “Amit Anilchandra Shah”, also did not throw up a red or yellow notice (issued to help locate missing persons), further indicating that the viral graphic was fake.
Newschecker has reached out to Interpol for their response to the viral claim. We will update this article once we receive a reply.
Also Read: Here’s The Truth Behind Viral Image Showing Greta Thunberg & Leonardo DiCaprio On A Yacht
Conclusion
The viral red ‘Interpol Notice’, purportedly issued against Union Home Minister Amit Shah for allegedly approving a plot targeting Khalistani separatists inside Canada found to be fake.
Result: False
Source
Interpol website
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Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
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.
