Misinformation Fuels Tragedy in Kashmir: Teacher Wrongly Labeled as Terrorist

The death of Mohammad Iqbal, a teacher killed in cross-border shelling in Kashmir, was compounded by accusations of terrorism from media sources, spurring outrage from his family and underscoring the perils of warfare-related misinformation.

An Indian teacher was tragically killed in cross-border shelling on May 7, but the family's anguish was magnified when he was erroneously labeled a terrorist by various media outlets. Mohammad Iqbal lived in Poonch city, part of Indian-administered Kashmir, where he had dedicated over two decades to teaching at Zia-ul-Uloom, a madrassa. His death occurred soon after India initiated aerial strikes in the wake of a militant attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives. Although Pakistan denied any involvement in that violent incident, Mr. Ahmed's grief turned to anger as media reports falsely identified his brother as a terrorist, prompting the police to issue a formal denial.

"We had just lost Iqbal and then the media defamed him further," said Farooq Ahmed, Iqbal's brother, expressing bitterness over how his sibling was depicted in the aftermath of tragedy. Government sources indicate that 16 individuals were killed in the four-day conflict related to the airstrikes, while Pakistan claims 40 civilian deaths are directly attributable to the cross-border artillery fire.

As tensions between India and Pakistan flared anew in the region of Kashmir—a long-disputed territory since the two nations' independence from Britain in 1947—the conflict caused turmoil not just on the ground but also in the virtual world. Misinformation spread rapidly across social media platforms, compounding the chaotic narrative already unfolding. The media even falsely claimed dramatic events, such as the destruction of Pakistan's Karachi port, which later proved to be entirely untrue.

"One would expect sensationalism, but this level of jingoistic irresponsibility in coverage was unprecedented," observed Manisha Pande, managing editor at Newslaundry, noting the degree to which news channels competed for audience attention, often at the risk of accuracy. Mr. Ahmed found himself grappling with the painful implications of this narrative as channels showcased his brother as a terrorist linked with Pakistan's Lashkar-e-Taiba.

In grief-stricken silence, the family buried Iqbal in a nearby cemetery—unaware of the wave of disinformation that swept over them soon after. Relatives learned of the false allegations through social media, revealing this painful episode like salt in a fresh wound. High-profile channels such as Zee News and News18 perpetuated the myth, to which Poonch police subsequently responded by clarifying the facts. Their assertion, however, proved inadequate—the damage was already done.

While a handful of outlets offered apologies post-fact, the family seeks formal redress against those media channels that tarnished Iqbal's name. As the sole breadwinner, Iqbal's absence leaves a void for his two wives and eight children, prompting Mr. Ahmed to weigh the harsh realities of needing to provide for them. "How will anyone understand our pain?" he lamented, grieving the legacy of a quiet teacher turned into a tragic, wrongful figure in a conflict that continues to cloud rational understanding.