Yesterday, after our Mig-21 shot down a Pakistani F16, the Indian Wing Commander’s plane got hit by ground fire. Wing Commander Abhinandan was then captured by Pakistanis. After videos of the Indian Air Force pilot were circulated widely by Pakistani media and users, a section of Indian media too picked the videos up which showed him being beaten up mercilessly by Pakistanis. Thereafter, a video where released where Abhinandan was made to say on video, that he was being well treated by the Pakistanis. This was in contravention of the Geneva convention.
Amidst the high tension between the two countries and ongoing political drama over it, there are certain handles who are busy spreading false and unverified information. Yesterday many people from Indian media and some self-proclaimed liberals were found spreading the Pakistani version of arguments after they claimed that Pakistan has shot down two Indian fighter planes.
However, later, the Pakistan government had itself retracted its initial claim of two Indian planes being brought down and had asserted that one pilot is in their custody.
Meanwhile, in India, a chunk of self-proclaimed liberals and ‘peace preachers’ have been trying to play the capture of the Indian Air Force pilot as a dealing card to make the central government stand down and negotiate with terrorist supporter Pakistan.
Today, it was seen that many handles on social media were circulating images and video in which a woman was shown as the WC Abhinandan’s wife. The handles claimed that the pilot’s wife is requesting the BJP and PM Modi to stop using the soldiers for getting ‘electoral benefits’.
One such person Sunil Baisoyia who claims to be a Congress worker in his Twitter bio was seen circulating the fake video.
Many other people, among whom one Aftab Alam, who claims to be a Delhi University Assistant professor have also shared the fake video in a deliberate attempt to spread misinformation.
These videos being shared by several people, including workers of political parties is fake. In fact, Wing Commander Abhinandan’s wife has issued no such statement, neither the woman in the video is his wife. Abhinandan’s father had recently come out to issue a statement where he expressed immense pride in his son and the fact that he was serving the nation. He had also requested to leave them alone. It is highly unlikely that Abhinandan’s wife would have released a statement and hence, the videos being spread to blackmail for “peace”, is fake.
Earlier today, sources have reported that the government of India has refused to allow Pakistan to use WC Abhinandan as a bargaining chip and asserted that he should be released immediately under the rules of Geneva convention. India had asserted that Pakistan is trying to use an Indian pilot as a bargaining chip and trying to create a ‘Kandahar’ like situation. As per recent reports, after a tough stand by India, Imran Khan has declared that they will release Wing Commander Abhinandan tomorrow.
