Daijiworld Media Network - Srinagar
Srinagar, Jun 29: In a significant development, a Poonch court has directed the Jammu and Kashmir Police to register a First Information Report (FIR) against Zee News, News18, and other unnamed TV anchors and editors for falsely branding a local seminary teacher as a "Pakistani terrorist" following his death during the India-Pakistan cross-border shelling in May.
The order was passed on Saturday (June 28) by Sub-Judge Shafeeq Ahmed, who stated that an apology issued by the media outlets “does not cure the mischief” caused by their “irresponsible reporting,” particularly at a time of heightened tensions in Jammu and Kashmir following ‘Operation Sindoor’—India’s military operation targeting terrorist bases in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied J&K.
The FIR is to be registered under Sections 353(2) (public mischief), 356 (defamation), and 196(1) (promoting enmity between religious groups) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, along with Section 66 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which addresses dishonest or fraudulent acts using computer resources.
The false reportage revolved around Qari Mohammad Iqbal, a teacher at the Jamia Zia-ul-Uloom seminary in Poonch, who was killed on May 7 while buying groceries during heavy artillery shelling from across the Line of Control. Media outlets like Zee News, CNN News18, and Republic TV incorrectly identified him as a “top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander” involved in previous terror attacks — a claim that prompted widespread outrage in his hometown.
Following protests from local residents and a police advisory warning of legal action over misreporting, the networks issued apologies. However, the court clarified that these apologies do not negate the need for a formal investigation.
The court emphasized the duty of the press to report accurately and fairly, especially during sensitive periods. “Branding a deceased civilian teacher as a ‘Pakistani terrorist’ without verification cannot be dismissed as a mere journalistic lapse,” the order said. “This freedom [of the press] does not extend to publishing defamatory or misleading content that causes serious harm to individuals or the community.”
The court also directed the station house officer (SHO) of Poonch to initiate a fair, impartial, and time-bound investigation and submit a compliance report within seven days.
The case was brought before the court by Advocate Sheikh Mohammad Saleem, who argued that the wrongful reporting had deeply hurt the sentiments of the local Muslim community, damaged the seminary’s reputation, and caused psychological trauma to Iqbal’s family.
The ruling serves as a reminder of the press's ethical and legal obligations, particularly when reporting during times of conflict.