PIB Debunks Fake Claims About Northern Army Commander’s Removal, Army Document ‘Leaks’

New Delhi, Apr 30: The Press Information Bureau (PIB) on Wednesday firmly dismissed social media claims suggesting that Lt Gen MV Suchindra Kumar, the Indian Army’s Northern Commander, had been removed from his post following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam. The PIB clarified that Lt Gen Kumar is set to retire on April 30 upon attaining superannuation, and not due to any disciplinary action or administrative move.

The false claims, reportedly propagated by several pro-Pakistan social media accounts, linked his departure to the April 22 terror attack in Baisaran, Pahalgam, where 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed. PIB Fact Check posted on X (formerly Twitter), calling the allegations “fake” and shared a collage of misleading posts to highlight the misinformation.

Lt Gen Kumar assumed charge as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) of the Northern Command in February 2024, after serving as Vice Chief of the Army Staff. He will be succeeded by Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, the PIB confirmed.

This clarification comes amid a spike in misleading narratives online, particularly following the Pahalgam incident, which has heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. The PIB and Ministry of Defence have also flagged other instances of misinformation.

Earlier this week, the PIB dismissed fabricated claims circulating on social media about the alleged leak of “confidential documents” related to Indian Army preparedness. “These documents are FAKE,” the PIB Fact Check stated, urging the public not to share unverified content and to rely solely on official sources.

Additionally, the Defence Ministry warned citizens against a fraudulent WhatsApp message claiming the government had opened a bank account to accept donations for the modernization of the Army. The ministry clarified that no such account exists and advised people to stay vigilant against such scams.

The government has reiterated its commitment to combatting misinformation and protecting national security interests in the digital space.