Poonch: Police on Thursday strongly denied claims circulating on certain media channels and social media platforms that linked the late Maulana Mohd Iqbal to militancy-related activities.
In an official handout, the police clarified that Maulana Iqbal, 46, son of Peer Baksh and a resident of Baila village in Mandi tehsil, died due to cross-border shelling by Pakistan at Madrasa Zia-ul-Uloom in Poonch city.
“The deceased was a respected religious figure in the local community and had no affiliation with any terror outfit,” the statement said. It added that spreading false narratives in such sensitive matters disrespects the deceased and causes unnecessary panic.
A senior police official described the misreporting as both misleading and insensitive. “Poonch Police strongly refutes such false narratives,” the statement added.
The police have warned that legal action will be taken against any individual or media outlet spreading fake news under relevant laws.
“All media personnel and platforms are advised to verify facts from official sources before publishing any information related to security and public order,” the handout added.
