Govt debunks claims of Army commander 'removal' after Pahalgam attack as fake
New Delhi, Apr 30 (PTI): The government's Press Information Bureau (PIB) on Wednesday debunked claims made in posts by "several pro-Pakistan social media accounts" that the commander of Indian Army's Northern Command, Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar, has been 'removed' from his post after the Pahalgam attack.
The general officer attained superannuation on April 30 after completing an illustrious career of four decades in the Indian Army, which in a post on X expressed "deep gratitude for his exemplary leadership, utmost professionalism and unblemished service to the nation".
"Several pro-Pakistan social media accounts falsely claim that Northern Commander Lt Gen Suchindra Kumar has been removed from his post after the Pahalgam incident #PIBFactCheck The claims being made in these posts are #fake," PIB Fact Check wrote on X.
It posted a collage of such 'reports' having false claims on the microblogging platform.
There have been several misleading posts on social media amid heightened tension between New Delhi and Islamabad following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir. On April 22, terrorists shot dead 26 people, mostly tourists, at a meadow in Baisaran of south Kashmir's Pahalgam.
Lt Gen Kumar had assumed charge as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Udhampur-based Northern Command of the Indian Army in February 2024.
He attained superannuation on April 30. Lt Gen Pratik Sharma will be the new general officer commanding-in-chief of the northern command and will assume office on Thursday.
Lt Gen Kumar had earlier served as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff.
In another post on X on Wednesday, PIB Fact Check flagged that an X handle is circulating a "fake" image on social media that "falsely claims that a formal Court of Inquiry has been ordered" against Lt Gen Kumar.
"An X handle (@commandeleven), operated by ISI proxies (blocked in India), is circulating an image on social media that falsely claims that a formal Court of Inquiry has been ordered against Lieutenant General MV Suchindra Kumar of the Northern Command, who was earlier taken into custody for the Pahalgam incident.
"#PIBFactCheck This image is fake No such post has ever been done by the official X handle of @HQ_IDS_India (Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff)," it wrote on the micro-blogging platform.
Earlier in the day, the Army replying to a post by its Northern Command on X on Wednesday said the general officer was "given a befitting farewell by the brave men and women of the Command".
"Lieutenant General MV Suchindra Kumar after completing an illustrious career of four decades in the Indian Army, today relinquished the Command of Indian Army's Northern Command.
"He was given a befitting farewell by the brave men and women of the Command. The Indian Army expresses deep gratitude for his exemplary leadership, utmost professionalism and unblemished service to the Nation," it said.
The Northern Command in its post wrote that Lt Gen Kumar laid a wreath to honour the supreme sacrifice of the bravehearts at Dhruva War Memorial, Udhampur on superannuation and relinquishing command of the Northern Command.
The PIB had on Monday flagged that some pro-Pakistan social media accounts are falsely claiming that 'confidential documents' related to the preparedness of the Indian Army have been "leaked".
In a post on X, PIB Fact Check dubbed these documents as "fake".
The Ministry of Defence on Sunday cautioned that a "misleading" message is doing the rounds on WhatsApp claiming that the government has opened a bank account seeking donations for the modernisation of the Indian Army.
In a statement, the ministry had debunked the message and urged people to "remain cautious and not fall prey to such fraudulent messages".
The PIB Fact Check had also alerted people about this "misleading" message with a post on X on Sunday.
An X handle (@commandeleven), operated by ISI proxies (blocked in India), is circulating an image on social media that falsely claims that a formal Court of Inquiry has been ordered against Lieutenant General MV Suchindra Kumar of the Northern Command, who was earlier taken into… pic.twitter.com/UJwYErT9Zi
— PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) April 30, 2025
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Teen killed in alleged honour killing over inter-community relationship, brother, his friend arrest
Manesar, Haryana: Police have arrested two men in connection with the sexual assault and murder of a 19-year-old woman in what investigators describe as a case of honour killing linked to her relationship with a man from another community.
According to the police, the crime was allegedly planned by the woman’s 28-year-old brother. He had sought the help of his 30-year-old friend to carry out the killing and the friend is accused of raping the young woman before murdering her.
The family, originally from Etah and Agra districts of Uttar Pradesh, had been living in Manesar, Haryana, for nearly six years, as reported by Hindustan Times. Police said tensions escalated after the brother discovered that his sister was in a relationship with a 24-year-old man from another community and intended to marry him. Opposed to the relationship, he sent her back to their family home in Etah on November 15.
The woman returned to Manesar on November 22 and began living with her partner. Assistant Commissioner of Police Virender Saini said this prompted the brother to plan killing her. Acting on his directions, the co-accused contacted the woman, posing as someone willing to help her elope and marry her partner.
Trusting him, the woman agreed to meet near Rampura Chowk on the night of December 10 and instead of assisting her, the accused allegedly took her to a secluded area in Gwalior. Police said she was sexually assaulted there and, when she resisted, was beaten and later strangled with her scarf. Her body was subsequently concealed under debris in a field.
Following the murder, both men fled to their native places. During the initial investigation, the brother allegedly tried to divert suspicion towards the woman’s boyfriend, who was briefly detained. He was later released after evidence established that the brother and his friend were present at the crime scene.
Police said the brother later confessed during questioning, while the co-accused acknowledged to the rape and murder. A case has been filed under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for murder, criminal conspiracy, and common intent. Officials stated that forensic evidence, such as DNA analysis, post-mortem discoveries, and medical tests, will be utilized to support the charges.
