WebQoof Recap: Misinformation Around Pahalgam Terror Attack, West Bengal & More
Read our weekly recap to find out the kind of misinformation that went viral this week.
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From misinformation around the terror attack in Pahalgam to an old video being incorrectly shared as a recent incident from West Bengal with a false claim, here are our top five fact-check stories from this week.
1. No, This Video Isn't the 'Last Clip' of Navy Officer Who Died in Pahalgam Attack
Several media outlets shared a video of a couple dancing at Baisaran valley claiming that it was the "last video" shared by Lieutenant Vinay Narwal before he was shot in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
While some of these organisations later deleted the video, it was also shared by different social media users with a similar claim.
But the truth was that the couple was misidentified as late Lieutenant Narwal and his wife. The video actually showed cabin crew Yashika Sharma Sehrawat and her husband, cricketer Ashish Sehrawat.
Read the full story here.
2. Old Clip of Army Personnel Shooting Falsely Linked to Pahalgam Terror Attack
A clip showing an army personnel shooting at what seemed to be two bodies laying in show went viral on social media platforms with users linking it to the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.
Those sharing the video insinuated that it showed the army 'taking revenge'.
However, the claim was misleading as the video has been available online since at least 2020 and has no connection to the recent terror attack.
Read our fact-check here.
3. Does This Video Show Two People Recently Arrested for Planting Bomb in WB? No!
A video showing people gathered on railway tracks was going viral on the internet with a claim that it shows two people, who were recently arrested for planting bombs in Murshidabad, West Bengal.
Team WebQoof found that the video dated back to December 2024 and had no connection to the recent violence that broke out in Murshidabad.
Read the full story here.
4. No, Government Has Not Imposed GST on UPI Transactions over Rs 2,000
Marathi news outlets, such as Maharashtra Times and Lokmat, shared reports claiming that the government will be levying Goods and Services Tax (GST) on UPI transactions over ₹2,000.
However, the claim was false. The Finance Ministry clarified that the viral claim was "completely false, misleading, and without any basis."
Read our fact-check here.
5. Old, Edited BBC Report Falsely Linked To Recent Murshidabad Violence
A purportedly BBC Hindi report was being circulated on the internet with users linking it to the recent violence that broke out in West Bengal's Murshidabad district.
Team WebQoof found that the report dated back to 2019, which talked about people allegedly affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) wearing caps and lungis to protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
Read the full story here.
(Not convinced of a post or information you came across online and want it verified? Send us the details on WhatsApp at 9540511818 , or e-mail it to us at webqoof@thequint.com and we'll fact-check it for you. You can also read all our fact-checked stories here.)