RSS Attack On Colonel Sofiya Qureshi's Home? Karnataka Cops Bust Fake Post
Bengaluru:
In the latest example of cyber attacks aimed at creating trouble in India amid the tensions with Pakistan, a post on X claimed that supporters of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) vandalised the family home of Colonel Sofiya Qureshi in Karnataka's Belagavi. Following a warning from police, the post was deleted.
The X profile that put up the post is named "Anis Uddin" and the location mentions British Columbia, Canada. The profile follows 405 handles and 31 followers and most posts support Pakistan. The cover image has photographs of Pakistan's first Governor-General Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Army chief General Asim Munir and other top Pakistani defence officers.
"Disturbing attack on Muslim Indian Army officer's family. Colonel Sophia Qureshi - the newly appointed spokesperson of the Indian Army - has become the latest target of RSS-led hate. According to credible sources, her family home in Belagavi, Karnataka, was attacked," the post said. It added a photo of a vandalised room with things thrown around.
As soon as police noticed the post, a team was rushed to Colonel Qureshi's family home in Belagavi's Gokak and everything was found to be normal. Dr Bheemashankar S Guled, Superintendent of Police for Belagavi, replied to the post, "This is a fake news. As SP of the Belagavi, I would like to warn the persons involved in creating this post, which is fake, to delete it immediately." The post was deleted.
As a precaution, police have provided security to the senior Army officer's home.
Colonel Qureshi was born in Vadodara in Gujarat. She is married to Colonel Tajuddin Bagewadi, who is from Belagavi. Colonel Qureshi's in-laws stay at the Belagavi home and she often visits them.
The face of the government's press briefing in the tense days after India conducted airstrikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi is now a household name across the country. A decorated officer, she has emerged as an inspiration for women, along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, also a part of the briefings.
BJP veteran BL Santhosh has said in a post on X, "In a matter of 7 days, she is an icon for (the) young generation. Not just by press briefing but by her life and legacy of her family. Daughter of Vadodara, daughter-in-law of Belagavi, Pride of Bharat."
The fake news surrounding Colonel Qureshi comes amid a flood of cyber attacks launched by Pakistan-allied hackers. According to a PTI report, Maharashtra cyber crime police identified seven groups responsible for launching over 15 lakh cyber attacks targeting critical infrastructure websites across India after the Pahalgam attack. Only 150 such attacks were successful, say officials. In a report named "Road of Sindoor", the Maharashtra cyber agency has detailed the cyber warfare launched by Pakistan-allied groups. These groups used several methods, including malware campaigns, Distributed Denial-of-Service attacks, and GPS spoofing. Indian websites linked to defence were also defaced.
Pieces of information that were spread during this conflict include claims of cyber attacks on India's power grid, statewide blackouts, satellite jamming and an alleged attack on a BrahMos missile storage facility, a senior official said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
37 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Bring sponsors, perpetrators & financiers of terror to justice'
NEW DELHI: The 4th India-Central Asia Dialogue saw the two sides stressing that perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of terrorist acts must be held accountable and brought to justice, while also unequivocally condemning the Pahalgam attack. In a joint statement, they underlined the need to strengthen UN-led global counterterrorism cooperation and fully implement the relevant UNSC resolutions, Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and FATF standards. External affairs minister S Jaishankar and his counterparts from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and Turkmenistan called on PM Narendra Modi after the Dialogue that saw focus on issues related to connectivity, trade, investment and counterterrorism. "India deeply cherishes its historical ties with the countries of Central Asia. Look forward to working together to further deepen our cooperation in trade, connectivity, energy, fintech, food security and health for mutual progress and prosperity,"Modi said in a post on X, adding both sides stood firm and resolute in their collective fight against terrorism. A joint statement said that the ministers unequivocally condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.
NDTV
42 minutes ago
- NDTV
'Good Start': National Conference On Kashmir Rail Link Inaugurated By PM Modi
Srinagar: Political parties, cutting across affiliations and ideologies, welcomed the Kashmir rail link on Friday, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hoping for a boost in trade and tourism in the valley. The ruling National Conference (NC) termed the rail link a good start. "It is a good start for us. It will help ease the difficulties we have faced in transportation, and tourism and other sectors," NC leader and MLA Pampore, Justice Hasnain Masoodi (retd), told reporters here. He also at the same time said the rights and constitutional guarantees of the people of J-K must also be honoured. "The train has chugged, but the promises also need to be kept. The old promises, made when we joined hands with them, should be honoured," the former Lok Sabha MP said, referring to the promises made with the people of J-K at the time of accession. "This vehicle can only move forward well when both of its tyres -- development and political aspirations -- run well. Then only can the whole nation benefit," he added. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti welcomed the train to Kashmir, terming the project a culmination of what so many governments worked on and capped by the Modi government. "We welcome the train. The work had been on for the past 40 years, ever since Indira Gandhi started the Jammu-Udhampur railway link in 1983. All governments have worked on this project, and Modi has completed it. It was very difficult, but he has done it, and people are happy with it," Mufti said. Reacting to the prime minister's address in Katra, the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said she was happy that Modi acknowledged the people's categorical denunciation of terrorism in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. "I am also happy that Modi has acknowledged the stand taken by the people of Kashmir against terrorism after the Pahalgam attack. He appreciated Adil Shah, who laid down his life while saving a tourist. This is who Kashmiris are," she said. Another PDP leader and Pulwama MLA, Waheed Para, said the train straddled centuries of separation. "As train now reaches the soul of Kashmir crossing not just mountains, but centuries of silence and separation. The Chenab Bridge is more than steel; it is healing in motion, and a long-awaited vision made real," Para said on X. He said Kashmir's future lies not in "isolation", but "in becoming a gateway as (Sufi saint) Shah-e-Hamdan (Mir Syed Ali Hamdani) once walked paths that linked this land to Central Asia. "Let all roads converge here. Through Kashmir, India opens its gates to the region, and to the world. No longer be the edge, Kashmir is the bridge to South and Central Asia," he said. The J-K unit of BJP described the completion of the Udhampur-Baramulla rail link as a "historic moment", and called the project a "precious Eid gift" for the people of the Union Territory. "The Udhampur-Baramulla railway connectivity is not just a feat of engineering, but a symbol of hope, development, and national integration. This is truly a historic moment for Jammu and Kashmir," BJP's J-K spokesperson Altaf Thakur said. He said, "This is yet another testament to PM Modi's unwavering commitment to the development and progress of J-K." Thakur hailed the project as one of the most significant infrastructure achievements in recent times and said it will benefit everyone, especially those from the far-flung and economically weaker regions. Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also welcomed the railway link. He, however, also asked the prime minister to release political prisoners from J-K if he sincerely sought to reduce the mistrust. Addressing the Friday congregation at the historic Jama Masjid here, the Mirwaiz said all prisoners, including political leadership, remain in the prayers and thoughts of the people. The government of India should, as a goodwill gesture, release these prisoners on the occasion of Eid, he said. "If the prime minister truly seeks to reduce the 'dil ki doori' (distance of hearts) which he often mentions in his speeches, then such humanitarian steps are the real way forward. Train links are welcome, but it is the human links that truly matter and endure," the Mirwaiz said.
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Peacemaker Or Patron Of Peril? Pakistan's Hollow Gratitude To Saudi Arabia Over India ‘Ceasefire' Reeks of Hypocrisy
New Delhi: In a political theatre draped in hypocrisy and delusion, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's June 6 Eid pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia has revealed more than diplomatic pleasantries, it has exposed Islamabad's deeply flawed obsession with projecting itself as a peace-seeking nation, while covertly fuelling terror and instability across South Asia. While Indian security forces continue to grapple with Pakistan-backed cross-border terrorism, the latest being the April 22 deadly Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians, Sharif had the gall to thank Saudi Arabia for mediating 'peace' between India and Pakistan. Yes, the same Pakistan whose soil has birthed masterminds like Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar now pretends to be a sobered neighbour seeking dialogue. Shehbaz's post-Eid rendezvous with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman became a diplomatic masquerade. Pakistan's PM went as far as commending Riyadh's 'positive and constructive' role in de-escalating recent Indo-Pak tensions. But let us not forget: there was no ceasefire agreement because India needed mediation. It was a tactical decision from New Delhi, calibrated, controlled and backed by military superiority. India, unlike Pakistan, does not run to foreign patrons for a bailout every time tensions flare. It responds with surgical strikes, diplomatic isolations, or, most recently, tough measures like suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, choking Pakistan's already struggling agrarian economy. Islamabad calling it 'Indian aggression' is laughable. The real aggression has always flowed from Rawalpindi's GHQ, not Raisina Hill. Pakistan's Saudi Paradox It is ironic and almost insulting that Pakistan speaks of 'responsible restraint' while praising Saudi Arabia for 'peacemaking', even as ISI-trained militants infiltrate Indian borders. This charade seems more like Islamabad seeking validation for a narrative that has lost global credibility. India has made it clear – terror and talks cannot go together. When New Delhi responds, it does so with clarity, whether it is by revoking Article 370, neutralising terrorists with pinpoint military operations or weaponising diplomacy at global forums like the FATF, where Pakistan continues to oscillate on grey lists. Pakistan's efforts to internationalise every skirmish with India, now disguised under the veil of 'Saudi mediation', are nothing but attempts to cover up its diplomatic failures and domestic chaos. The recent Eid-ul-Adha trip, painted as a triumph, only further illustrated Pakistan's dependence on external crutches to remain relevant on the global stage. Meanwhile, India continues to handle its security and diplomacy with maturity. It does not need foreign intervention to speak for it. India's stance is firm: if Pakistan wants peace, it must first stop exporting terror. Can Saudi Arabia Play a Real Strategic Role? The honest answer is yes, but only if it chooses substance over symbolism. Riyadh holds leverage over Islamabad, not just diplomatically but economically, given the billions in aid and loans Saudi Arabia has extended to keep Pakistan afloat. If the Kingdom truly wishes to play a constructive role in South Asia, it should use that leverage to demand accountability from Pakistan's military and intelligence networks that perpetuate terrorism. It should push for genuine de-radicalisation, not lavish state banquets while terror training camps operate across the LOC. The Kingdom's credibility as a regional power hinges not on polite diplomacy, but on tough conversations behind closed doors. Enough of This Farce India sees the visit a bizarre gratitude Pakistan extended to Saudi Arabia over a supposed 'ceasefire' with New Delhi. There was no such peace deal, just India deciding when and how to engage. After all, why would the world's most populated democracy entertain a dialogue with a rogue state where democracy itself is a puppet of the military? Sharif may find joy in royal luncheons and chauffeured rides by the Saudi Crown Prince. But no amount of hospitality or photo-ops can erase Pakistan's record as the fountainhead of terrorism in South Asia. India does not need a peace certificate from a state that harbours fugitives and celebrates terrorists as martyrs. And if Saudi Arabia truly wants to play peacemaker, it should first urge Pakistan to dismantle its terror infrastructure. Until then, these symbolic gestures and orchestrated hugs in palaces will remain what they truly are – diplomatic illusions in a house of cards.
