A photo of what appears to be five grenade-shaped pens is being widely shared on social media. Along with it, an audio message and photographs of injured people are rapidly circulating on WhatsApp. The message warns people against bombs resembling pen-like objects scattered in various places.

“Anyone who presses the button on top of this pen will cause it to explode, causing injuries to the face, hands, or body.” The message also urges recipients to forward it to every group and inform both children and adults.

Alt News received multiple requests on its WhatsApp helpline (+91 7600011160) seeking verification of the claim and the truth behind the alleged “pen bomb.”

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In an article published by AIMA Media and News First Prime, images of the purported pen bomb and injured individuals were used to claim that pen-shaped miniature bombs had been found in different locations in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. According to these reports, people picked up the objects and pressed their buttons, causing accidents. These incidents caused fear and anxiety among locals.

Furthermore, referring to the viral images, the articles stated, “All citizens have been urged not to pick up objects resembling pens in order to avoid accidents. The message also appeals to people to share this warning as widely as possible so that they and their families can remain safe.”

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Meanwhile, Zee News’ official Facebook, Instagram and YouTube accounts, as well as State Mirror Hindi and Vikalp Times Media, published articles displaying images of the grenade-shaped pen and claiming that “Bulandshahr Police has issued an important advisory for the general public. Citizens have been urged to stay away from suspicious objects resembling pens, as these could be explosives or bombs. The police have warned that if such a pen-shaped suspicious device or object is spotted on roadsides, in fields, or in isolated places, people should not touch or move it under any circumstances. Instead, they should immediately inform the nearest police station or contact the helpline.”

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Several users have also shared these images, claiming that police in Delhi, Chhattisgarh and other parts of the country had issued alerts regarding pen bombs. Some even described the entire episode as a Pakistani conspiracy.

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Fact Check

Alt News investigated the claims regarding the alleged police advisory.

We found that the official X account of Bulandshahr Police had replied to a post by Vikalp Times Media and rejected the claim. The police clarified that neither the district magistrate nor the senior superintendent of police in Bulandshahr had issued any advisory or warning regarding suspicious pen-shaped objects. The administration described the viral claim as misleading.

During the investigation, we also found a video posted by the official account of the Raipur Police Commissionerate in Chhattisgarh, featuring ACP Ramakant Sahu of Civil Lines. He appealed to the public not to believe or circulate rumours.

Sahu stated that no such incident had occurred in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, or anywhere else in the country. According to him, the message appeared to have been spread solely to create panic. He urged people not to pay attention to such rumours and to inform the police if they had any concerns.

We then performed a reverse image search on the viral photograph of the alleged pen bomb. The same image was found on the American e-commerce website Etsy. The pen shown in the viral image is described as a military novelty tank or grenade ink pen and is listed for sale on the website for approximately ₹6,163.

According to the Etsy listing, these military-style tank and grenade pens are available in several finishes, including 24-carat gold, antique brass, gun pewter and green metal. The pens can be refilled using Parker-style ink cartridges.

The product description further states that the pen makes an ideal gift for those who serve and protect their country. The manufacturer, Penatradition, has been registered on Etsy for nine years. Nowhere in the product description is there any mention of explosives being concealed inside the pens.

In other words, the object shown in the viral image is not a real grenade or explosive device. It is a military-style grenade-themed ink pen available for purchase on Etsy.

Next, we conducted a reverse image search of the photographs showing injured individuals. Four of the images were found in a post published on June 11, 2026, by the official X account of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Punjab.

According to the post, people coming out of a mosque after Fajr prayers in Rawalakot were fired upon. These images were actually from an incident in Rawalakot, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), where Pakistani forces allegedly opened fire with AK-47 rifles on thousands of unarmed protesters demanding basic rights. The incident reportedly left 16 people dead and 37 injured.

However, we were unable to determine the origin of the remaining two viral images independently. This report will be updated if new information becomes available.

To sum up, the viral claims about so-called “pen bombs” are actually a grenade-themed ink refill pen sold on Etsy. Both Bulandshahr and Raipur police confirmed that no advisory about such objects exists, and no incidents have been reported. The visuals being circulated are old and unrelated. The viral claim on social media is false and misleading.

False
Claim:
Images showing grenade-shaped pens or pen-bombs causing severe injuries to people and police issued advisory or warning regarding suspicious pen-shaped objects

The content is factually incorrect or fabricated.

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