Early Times Report
NEW DELHI, Oct 3: In a stern rebuttal to misinformation spreading across social media, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) has issued a fact check clarifying that a digitally altered video of Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Leh, Ghulam Muhammad, is being circulated with false claims regarding the arrest of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk.
The video, manipulated using artificial intelligence, falsely portrays the ADC as stating that Wangchuk was arrested at the direction of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). PIB’s Fact Check unit categorically stated that ADC Leh has made no such statement, and the video is a deepfake designed to mislead the public and incite panic.
“Fake AI videos are being spread to mislead and cause panic,” the PIB warned, urging citizens to verify content before sharing and report such misleading material to authorities.
The video in question surfaced shortly after Wangchuk’s arrest under the National Security Act (NSA) on September 26, following violent protests in Leh demanding Sixth Schedule status and statehood for Ladakh.
The unrest left four people dead and nearly 90 injured. Wangchuk was subsequently transferred to Jodhpur Jail in Rajasthan. This is not the first instance of deepfake content targeting officials in Ladakh. |
