Old protest clip filmed in Pakistan-held Kashmir, not India
"After ceasefire, as CRPF and CISF troops were returning from borders, Muslim traitors attacked their convoy with stones," adds the May 26, 2025 Facebook post, using the acronyms for paramilitary organisations functioning under India's Home Ministry (archived link).
"In response, the forces opened fire. Chaos ensued, in which nine stone pelters slipped and died. The army recorded the entire incident via drone. Several security vehicles were damaged."
Similar posts also rocketed on X and Threads following the worst fighting between India and Pakistan in decades that brought the nuclear-armed rivals to the brink of war.
The crisis was triggered by an attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir that New Delhi accuses it neighbour of supporting. Islamabad denies the charge.
More than 70 people on both sides died in the four-day military confrontation that ensued, which ended with an unexpected ceasefire on May 10 (archived link).
AFP found no official reports the incident described in the false posts occurred following the crisis, and the circulating video has been misrepresented.
A reverse image search of keyframes found a longer version published on Facebook on May 15, 2024 (archived link).
"Kashmiris Pelting Stones At The Convoy Of Pakistani Security Forces In Pakistan Occupied Kashmir," reads its caption.
An AFP journalist watched the video and was able to identify the mountain pass as Lohar Gali in Pakistan-administered Kashmir's Muzaffarabad region.
Corresponding visuals on Google Maps confirm the location (archived link).
Pakistani news outlets Dawn and Geo News Urdu embedded similar visuals in reports about the incident (archived here and here).
According to Dawn newspaper, at least three civilians were killed and several others injured after a paramilitary force operating under the Pakistan Army opened fire at people protesting against rising prices of wheat-flour and inflated electricity bills (archived link).
AFP has debunked the barrage of misinformation around the recent South Asia crisis here.
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