Key Points
- Times Now Navbharat reported Indian troops had entered Pakistan
- False coup claims spread as Indian media misreported tensions
- This is the most dangerous evolution of unchecked news: Manisha Pande
ISLAMABAD: An Indian journalist, shortly after midnight on 9 May, received a WhatsApp message from Prasar Bharati, India’s state broadcaster. It claimed Pakistan’s army chief had been arrested in a coup.
Within minutes, the news was posted on X (formerly Twitter), spreading rapidly across Indian media and social platforms, according to The Washington Post.
But the story was completely false. General Asim Munir remained in command and was promoted to field marshal. The fake report marked a dramatic episode in a wave of misinformation that flooded Indian media amid escalating cross-border tensions.
Indian journalists described how a mix of hyper nationalism, competition, and a lack of official communication allowed false stories to dominate, reported The Washington Post.
Unverified claims
With few government briefings, news anchors filled airtime with unverified claims. Times Now Navbharat reported Indian troops had entered Pakistan. TV9 Bharatvarsh claimed Pakistan’s PM had surrendered. Bharat Samachar said he was hiding in a bunker.
These channels—and others like Zee News, ABP News, and NDTV—aired unrelated visuals from Gaza, Sudan, a US plane crash, and even video games to support their narratives.
“This is the most dangerous evolution of unchecked news,” said Manisha Pande, managing editor of Newslaundry. “These anchors are now Frankenstein’s monsters—completely out of control.”
Relying on social media
India’s once-respected press has shifted significantly in the last decade. Analysts cite political alignment with the ruling BJP, pressure from the state, and career opportunism. Journalists admitted to relying on social media influencers close to the government or unverifiable sources.
One newsroom said they aired the false coup news after hearing it from the military, which did not comment. Meanwhile, real authorities like the Karachi Port Trust debunked the claims hours later.
Some reporters have reflected privately. A hot mic on NDTV caught a field journalist frustrated over the mixed signals from editors. On Aaj Tak, an audience member raised concerns about international embarrassment, only to have the mic pulled away, according to The Washington Post.
An anchor on Aaj Tak later admitted to “incomplete” reporting, asking viewers for forgiveness—a rare public acknowledgement in an industry facing a deep credibility crisis.
