FACT CHECK: Was Qari Mohammad Iqbal, who was killed in Pakistan shelling in Poonch, an LeT 'terrorist'?

The Jammu and Kashmir police issued a strong statement rejecting “false and misleading news” that was shared by some media channels and social media users about the death of Maulana Qari Mohammad Iqbal, a resident of Poonch in Jammu.

Iqbal, 46, was the son of Peer Baksh and lived in Village Baila, Tehsil Mandi. He was killed during cross-border shelling by Pakistan while he was at Madrasa (seminary) Zia-ul-Uloom in Poonch - a town close to the Line of Control and has often been at the receiving end of shelling and firing from across the LoC.

A private TV channel had wrongly reported that Iqbal was killed in an Indian strike on a terror camp in Kotli, in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), and that he was a Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist.

Refuting the channel’s description of Iqbal, the police said that Iqbal had no connection with any terrorist group.

In an official statement, police described him as a respected religious leader in his community. They said the false reports being spread not only cause unnecessary fear but also hurt the feelings of his grieving family and damage the reputation of an innocent man.

The police warned that strict legal action would be taken against any media outlet, journalist, or individual who spreads fake news against public order and national security laws.

“All journalists and media platforms are urged to check facts with official sources before sharing any information related to security matters,” the statement said.

The police urged the media not to report incidents without proper verification and desist from spread false news.

His family and fellow villagers have demanded strict action against the news channels for circulating fake and misleading information.