PIB Fact Check Debunks Arson Claim, Warns Against Fake Communal Propaganda

Old video from Delhi Haat fire falsely linked to communal violence; misinformation flagged amid rising India-Pakistan tensions

New Delhi [India], May 9: The Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) Fact Check unit has exposed a misleading social media video that falsely claims Indian Muslims were responsible for setting fires in Delhi. The video, widely circulated online, was found to be from the April 30 fire at the Delhi Haat market in the INA area, not a recent or communal incident.

“A video going viral on social media is falsely claiming that Indian Muslims have started arson in Delhi. This video is actually of the massive fire that broke out at Delhi Haat market in the INA area of Delhi on the evening of April 30, 2025,” PIB Fact Check stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

The unit urged citizens to rely only on verified information from official sources, calling the viral video part of a “well-planned propaganda campaign” aimed at spreading communal disharmony and misinformation.

The clarification comes at a time when tensions between India and Pakistan are running high following Operation Sindoor, during which India conducted precision strikes on nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Pakistan’s response included a large-scale drone incursion, prompting a spike in social media misinformation—much of it traced to Pakistan-based accounts, according to officials.

PIB Fact Check has also recently debunked other fake news attempts, including:

• Jammu Air Force Base Blast: A viral image claiming multiple explosions at the base was actually from the Kabul Airport bombing in August 2021, not from India.
• Hazira Port Attack Claim: A video depicting a massive explosion, shared with claims of a Pakistani attack on Gujarat’s Hazira Port, was traced back to a 2021 oil tanker explosion, unrelated to any current conflict.

PIB urged users to remain vigilant, avoid sharing unverified content, and help preserve communal harmony and national stability during this sensitive period.