SRINAGAR: The Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check, the government handle for busting fake news, said on Tuesday that a deepfake video is being circulated on social media showing Director General of Police (DGP) Ladakh, S.S. Singh, claiming that climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was arrested on the directions of the Defence Minister.
To set the record straight, PIB has posted the original video of Ladakh DGP’s press conference in which he shared details of Sonam Wangchuk’s arrest.
The PIB said in its fact check post on X, “A digitally altered video of Director General of Police (DGP) Ladakh Dr. S.D Singh is circulating on social media, in which he is making claims that Sonam Wangchuk was arrested on the directions of the Indian Defence Minister without any evidence. “PIBFactCheck DGP Ladakh has made NO such statement”.
Sonam Wangchuk was arrested under the National Security Act (NSA) and shifted to Jodhpur Jail in Rajasthan, and the Ladakh Police chief, S.D.Singh told reporters that he had been arrested for inciting violence in Leh town on September 24.
Four people were killed and 70 others were injured when police fired at the rioting arsonists in Leh town.
An equal number of security personnel were injured in stone pelting, beating and rioting by the unruly mob, police said.
The mob torched a CRPF vehicle with the intention of burning alive CRPF jawans sitting inside the vehicle, the Leh administration said.
The mob also torched the local BJP office and the office of the Leh Apex Body in addition to torching other vehicles and smashing the DGP’s vehicle as the police chief escaped with bruises.