After Operation Sindoor, X account in Canada posts fake news related to Col Sofiya Qureshi; Karnataka Police issue a warning
After a post falsely claiming that supporters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) vandalised the home of Colonel Sofiya Qureshi in Belagavi, Karnataka, surfaced on X, the district police chief said Thursday that the account holder has been warned, and security has been provided to her family.
Soon after Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, briefed the media on Operation Sindoor, social media posts, including fake narratives, went viral on social media.
An X handle, @uddinanis867, with verified blue tick, posted, 'Breaking: Disturbing attack on Muslim Indian Army officer's family. Col. Sofiya Qureshi, the newly appointed spokesperson of the Indian Army, has become the latest target of RSS-led hate. According to credible sources, Sofiya's family home in Belagavi (Konnur village) was attacked around 3 am by RSS extremists'.
'… The Indian Army has reportedly restricted Col. Sofiya's movement, and her entire family has been moved to Delhi for safety, as her name is now allegedly on the RSS hit list,' it added.
Soon after it went viral, Bheemashankar S Guled, Superintendent of Police, Belagavi, said there was no such incident, and also warned action against the account holder. Guled said the fake message came to light after the district's social media monitoring cell noticed it. 'I issued a warning to initiate legal action for spreading the fake news. He immediately removed the post,' he added.
Guled said the family has been given security.
During their investigation, the police found that the X account holder is from British Columbia, Canada, but said they are yet to get clarity on whether the person is an Indian citizen living in that country.
Col Sophiya Qureshi is married to Major Tajuddin Qureshi of the Mechanised Infantry, who hails from the Konnur village in the Belagavi district.
Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah, alluding to Col Sophiya Qureshi, said earlier this week that those who widowed India's daughters were taught a lesson by Prime Minister Narendra Modi using 'their own sister'. Shah's remarks triggered a row, with the Congress alleging that it was a reference to Colonel Sophiya Qureshi.
Hours after the Madhya Pradesh High Court directed the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Shah, the Supreme Court Thursday expressed displeasure over his remarks. The top court was hearing Shah's plea to quash the High Court order.
'A person holding such a public office is expected to uphold certain standards. Every sentence uttered by a minister has to be with responsibility… When this country is going through such a situation… just because you are a minister…,' Chief Justice of India B R Gavai said.
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