Social media posts claiming 3 Indian diplomats killed in attack in Afghanistan’s Jalalabad are fake
New Delhi (PTI Fact Check): Multiple social media users recently shared posts claiming that three high-ranking Indian diplomats were killed in an attack on Indian consulate vehicle in Afghanistan's Jalalabad on December 24. However, the PTI Fact Check Desk, in its investigation, found the claim to be false. In fact, an Afghan national working at the Indian consulate in Jalalabad sustained injuries when unidentified persons opened fire at his vehicle the same day.
Notably, India had long closed operations at the Indian consulate in Jalalabad post the fall of the Ashraf Ghani government. Only a number of local staffers are presently working at the mission.
Claim
An X (formerly Twitter) user on December 24 claimed that three high-ranking Indian diplomats were killed in an attack in Afghanistan’s Jalalabad. The post has garnered over 20k views so far.
Here's the link, archive link, and screenshot of the post.
Investigation
On running the viral screenshot through Google Lens, the Desk found that similar claim was shared by several other social media users. Two such posts can be seen here and here, and their archived versions can be viewed here and here, respectively.
Below is the screenshot of one such post by a user on X (formerly Twitter).
In the next part of investigation, the Desk carried out a customised keyword search on Google, but could not find any authentic news report, substantiating the viral claim.
However, the search results led us to a PTI report carried by The Print on December 24, whose headline read: “Afghan staffer at Indian consulate in Jalalabad injured in attack”.
Here is the link to the post:
“An Afghan national working at the Indian consulate in Jalalabad sustained injuries on Tuesday when unidentified persons opened fire at his vehicle, people familiar with the matter said,” read a section of the report.
It further stated that India had closed operations at the consulate around three-and-a-half years back but a number of local staffers were working at the mission.
On further scanning the search results, we came across another report on the incident by Hindustan Times.
Here's the link and screenshot of the news report.
None of the reports mentioned anything about any casualty or any Indian official suffering injuries in the attack.
Subsequently, the Desk concluded that the claim of three Indian officials being killed in an attack in Afghanistan’s Jalalabad was fake.
CLAIM
Three Indian diplomats killed in an attack in Afghanistan’s Jalalabad.
FACT
One Afghan staffer working at Indian consulate was injured in the December 24 attack.
CONCLUSION
Multiple social media users claimed that three Indian diplomats were killed in attack in attack in Afghanistan’s Jalalabad on December 24. In its investigation, the Desk found the claim to be false.
(This story was originally published by PTI, and republished by english.varthabharati.in as part of the Shakti Collective)
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Real Madrid fines Valverde and Tchouaméni half a million euros each for altercation
Barcelona (AP): Real Madrid slapped players Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni with half-a-million-euro ($588,000) fines on Friday for their altercation during practice.
The massive fines came a day after the midfielders tussled when the team trained. Valverde said in a post on social media on Thursday that no punches were thrown. But Valverde knocked his head on a table and he suffered a small cut that required a brief hospital visit.
On social media, Valverde initially called it a “meaningless fight” with a teammate and said “everything has been blown out of proportion."
His employers, however, considered it a significant enough breach of team discipline to nail both Valverde and Tchouaméni with fines that bite even the bank account of a top soccer player. The half-a-million euro penalties reflect the reputational damage the club was enduring in a chaotic end to a disappointing season.
In a statement, the 15-time European champion said its disciplinary action was concluded after both players expressed to the club “their complete remorse for what happened and apologized to one another.”
Madrid added they also apologized to their teammates, the coaching staff and club supporters, as well as showing their willingness to accept whatever disciplinary action the club deemed “opportune.”
Tchouaméni was back training with Madrid on Friday, two days before they play at Barcelona in a clasico. Madrid has to win otherwise Barcelona will be crowned La Liga champion.
After being notified of the fine, he posted a public apology to the club and its fans on social media.
“What happened this week in training is unacceptable,” Tchouaméni wrote. "I say this while thinking about the example we are expected to set for young people, whether in football or at school.
“Above all, I am sorry for the image we projected of the club.”
Valverde was not at practice due to the head knock.
Both players are set to play in the World Cup next month, with Tchouaméni playing for France and Valverde for Uruguay.
Chaotic end to a poor season
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The run-in between the players, who for seasons have played side by side in Madrid's midfield, came after they argued this week in previous training sessions. But tempers boiled over on Thursday. Spanish media was rife with reports that the players previously disagreed over the club's decision to let coach Xabi Alonso go after just months on the job.
It was not the only altercation involving Madrid players during training this week. Álvaro Carreras confirmed he was in a “minor” incident with a teammate. Spanish media said he and fellow defender Antonio Rüdiger got into a scuffle.
Álvaro Arbeloa, the coach who was promoted from Madrid's reserve team when Alonso was fired in January, will face tough questions on what went wrong inside the changing room when he gives a press conference on Saturday ahead of the clasico at Camp Nou.
Madrid is facing a second consecutive campaign without a major trophy amid rumors in the Spanish media that club president Florentino Pérez is considering bringing back Jose Mourinho to straighten out his underperforming team.
