CLAIM
Amid unrest in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, a rumour has been doing the rounds on social media, which claims that Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik had died in Tihar Jail.
A video uploaded by a YouTube user claimed that Malik had been killed in an Indian jail. The information was attributed to BBC. The narration in the video says : ‘Hurriyat rehnuma Yasin Malik ko Bhartiya Jail ke andar shaheed kar dia gaya hai. BBC ka dawa.’
(Translation: Hurriyat leader Yasin Malik was martyred in Indian jail, claims BBC)
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On Sunday, 4 August, Mushaal Hussein Mullick tweeted a video claiming that her husband Yasin Malik, who is presently in Tihar Jail, was critically ill and claimed that there were rumours about his death.
Pakistan news organisations including The Express Tribune and Pakistan Today reported about Yasin Malik on a ‘slow death trial,’ quoting his wife.
BBC URDU DENIES THE CLAIM
On Sunday, 4 August, BBC Urdu took to Twitter and informed that the news organisation had not reported about the death of Yasin Malik. The organisation further urged people to not fall for stories on social media without verifying them.
DG Prison, Tihar jail also said that the rumour about death of Yasin Malik is completely false and that his health condition is normal.
Further, Editor, Strategic Affairs & Internal Security, BTVI shared the video of Additional IG Tihar Jail Raj Kumar dismissing rumours of Yasin Malik’s death. Kumar added that Malik’s health condition is “normal” and “he is doing fine”.
WHY IS YASIN MALIK IN TIHAR JAIL?
A Delhi court on 10 April, had remanded Yasin Malik to National Investigation Agency (NIA) custody, in connection with a 2017 terror financing and terror conspiracy case in Jammu and Kashmir.
He was shifted to Delhi's Tihar Jail on 9 April, after the NIA secured his production remand in connection with a case related to funding of separatists and terror groups in Jammu and Kashmir, officials had said.
(With inputs from PTI)
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