Indian Army debunks viral press conference video, calls it bid to malign force's image
New Delhi, May 22
The Indian Army on Friday debunked a press conference video being circulated on various media and social media platforms as "fake and misleading," alleging that it was a malicious propaganda campaign designed to malign the force's image and push fabricated narratives.
The Indian Army clarified that the individuals featured in the footage were previously dismissed from service for indiscipline and unsoldierly conduct.
In a post on X, the Indian Army clarified that the individuals seen in the viral clip, identified as Chandu Chavan, Harendra Yadav and P Narender, had been dismissed from service on grounds of indiscipline and unsoldierly conduct.
It further stated that the fourth individual, Shankar Singh Gujjar, is a deserter, and disciplinary proceedings are currently underway against him in both military and civil courts. Advising citizens to remain cautious, the Army urged people not to fall prey to propaganda and misinformation being spread through such content.
"A press conference video is being circulated across media and social media platforms with an attempt to malign the image of the Indian Army. It is reiterated that the individuals seen in the video, namely Chandu Chavan, Harendra Yadav and P Narender, were dismissed from service on grounds of indiscipline and unsoldierly conduct. The fourth individual, Shankar Singh Gujjar, is a deserter and disciplinary proceedings are undergoing against him in both military and civil courts," the X post from Indian Army said.
"These individuals are deliberately spreading fake, malicious and misleading narratives on social media to divert attention from their own misconduct and dismissal from service. Citizens are advised not to fall prey to such propaganda and to remain vigilant against misinformation," the Indian Army post on X.
The Army clarification was on the viral clip of a press conference by Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh and Rashtriya Janta Dal MP Manoj Jha.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As a citizen, I trust our Army. They have always been transparent. But using dismissed soldiers to push anti-national propaganda is dangerous. Social media needs stronger fact-checking mechanisms before such videos go viral.
I'm an American living in India for work. It's disturbing how easily misinformation spreads here. The Army's quick response is commendable. Back home, our military would take weeks to clarify such things.
Why is the media giving space to such people without cross-checking? The Army has sacrificed so much for our safety. We should be careful before believing any video that tries to tarnish their image. 😡
While I support the Army, we must also have a thorough investigation into why these men were dismissed and if they have any genuine grievances. A blanket rejection without addressing their claims isn't ideal for public trust.
From Australia, we have similar issues with fake videos targeting our defense forces. Good to see India's Army being proactive. Disinformation is a global problem, and we all need to be vigilant. 👍
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.