Muslim cleric killed in cross-border shelling wrongly labelled as 'Terrorist' by news channels
New Delhi: Several national television channels have come under sharp criticism for wrongly identifying a Muslim cleric, killed in cross-border shelling by Pakistan, as a “terrorist”. The inaccurate reports have triggered widespread outrage on social media and among fact-checkers.
The victim, Qari Muhammad Iqbal, was an Islamic scholar and seminary teacher from Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir. He lost his life on Tuesday during Pakistani shelling across the Line of Control (LoC). Qari Iqbal had been associated with Jamia Zia-ul-Uloom in Poonch, where he had been teaching for over ten years.
Despite this, prominent Hindi news channels such as ABP News and Zee News aired reports claiming that a “terrorist” was killed in an Indian air strike, using Qari Iqbal’s image and name—without verification. The reports were later challenged by several independent media platforms and fact-checkers.
Kashmiri news outlet The Kashmiriyat clarified that Qari Iqbal was among the civilian casualties in the shelling and not involved in any terrorist activities. Their report included his name in the official list of civilians who died in the unprovoked attack from across the border.
Criticising the misleading coverage, Mohammad Zubair of Alt News wrote on social media platform X, “This is a shameful thing by Indian news channels. Mohammad Iqbal, a Qari from Poonch, India, has died in Pakistani shelling. He is being portrayed as a 'terrorist' (in the media).”
The incident has sparked fresh concerns about the lack of verification and sensitivity in television news reporting, particularly in conflict-related coverage. It has also raised questions about the impact such misreporting can have on the families of victims and the wider community.
This is shameful by Indian News Channels. Qari Mohammad Iqbal from poonch, India was killed yesterday in shelling from Pakistan is being portrayed as a 'terrorist' in multiple national Indian news channels. pic.twitter.com/8yXkUaJswd
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) May 8, 2025
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Telangana CM urges Amit Shah to increase sanctioned strength of IPS officers in state
Hyderabad (PTI): Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Wednesday night and urged him to increase the sanctioned strength of IPS officers to the state in view of its growing administrative and security needs.
The two leaders also discussed the recent surrender of several senior Maoist leaders before the Telangana Police and other issues.
"During the meeting, the two leaders discussed the issue of Maoist surrenders and their rehabilitation. The chief minister informed Shah that significant improvements in policing have taken place in Telangana over the past two years," an official release here said.
Highlighting that 591 Maoists have laid down their arms and joined the mainstream of society during this period, the chief minister said the state government was providing them compensation and rehabilitation assistance as per the rules.
He requested the Union home minister to extend financial support from the central government for development works in the backward regions of the state.
Reddy also urged Shah to increase the sanctioned strength of IPS officers to the state from 83 to 105 in line with the state's growing administrative and security needs, the statement said.
The first cadre review after the formation of Telangana was conducted in 2016, while the next review, due in 2021, was delayed and finally carried out in 2025. Even then, only seven additional IPS officers were allocated to the state, the chief minister informed Shah and requested that the third cadre review be conducted in 2026 as per the schedule.
Reddy explained that Telangana, like the rest of the country, is facing several modern challenges, including cybercrime, drug trafficking, white-collar crimes, and other emerging security threats.
He highlighted the reorganisation of the Hyderabad, Cyberabad, and Malkajgiri Police Commissionerates, the proposed formation of the Future City Commissionerate and the rapidly growing population in Hyderabad to underline the increasing administrative requirements of the state.
