A report by Press Trust of India (PTI) made headlines in the evening of November 19. It claimed that the Indian army is carrying out “pinpoint strikes on terror launchpads in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).”
“The Indian Army is carrying out “pinpoint strikes” on suspected terror launchpads inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to Pakistani military’s unrelenting efforts to push maximum number of terrorists into India before the onset of harsh winters, sources in the security establishment,” read the report republished by India Today.
One of the earliest to attribute the story to PTI was journalist Prashant Kumar.
BIG BREAKING: India carrying out ‘pinpoint strikes’ on terror launchpads inside PoK, PTI reports quoting Govt sources
— Prashant Kumar (@scribe_prashant) November 19, 2020
It was carried by nearly every mainstream media outlet including The Times of India, Times Now, Deccan Herald, Business Standard, ABP News, TV9 Gujarati, OneIndia, India TV and Firstpost.
Among the mainstream Hindi media outlets was Aaj Tak that later took down its broadcast.
Other news organisations that carried the story were Amar Ujala, Dainik Bhaskar and Dainik Jagran.
Journalists Rubika Liyaquat, Anjana Om Kashyap and Deepak Chaurasia also tweeted that India carried out “pinpoint strikes” in PoK.
Army refutes reports
The Indian Army clarified that there has been no firing across LOC today.
There has been no firing across the LOC today, clarifies Indian Army pic.twitter.com/isiS5ayIxe
— ANI (@ANI) November 19, 2020
“The PTI story going around is based on analysis of the Ceasefire Violations (CFV) that took place on Nov 13,” the clarification further said.
Clarification: Army has clarified that The PTI story going around is based on analysis of the Ceasefire Violations (CFV) that took place on Nov 13. There has been NO firing or CFV in #LoC today, says Army
— Dinakar Peri (@dperi84) November 19, 2020
Soon after several journalists also tweeted that the news was incorrect including India Today anchor Shiv Aroor.
No Indian Army action across the LoC in PoK today. Not so far, at least.
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) November 19, 2020
Anjana Om Kashyap who had tweeted the misinformation also put out a clarification later.
सेना ने PoK में आज किसी भी तरह की सैन्य स्ट्राइक का खंडन किया है।
— Anjana Om Kashyap (@anjanaomkashyap) November 19, 2020
A story that purportedly quoted “government sources” that the Indian army carried out “pinpoint strikes’ in PoK was refuted by the Army itself. Several media outlets have now taken down their erroneous reports or updated the articles.
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