#FactCheck-AI-Generated Newspaper Clipping Falsely Claims Salman Khan Was Injured in Firing Incident Introduction

Executive Summary

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A claim is being widely circulated on social media alleging that more than 20,000 Sikh and Muslim personnel have resigned from the Indian Army.The viral graphic further attributes a statement to Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, claiming that the resignations were triggered by Indian media allegedly blaming Muslims and Sikhs for the Delhi riots.  The graphic also includes the alleged remark that “Bhagwakaran (saffronisation) has destroyed us.” Several social media users are sharing the claim as genuine. CyberPeace Rresearch Wing ’s research found the viral claim to be false. Our research  revealed that there is no credible evidence to support the allegation that more than 20,000 Sikh and Muslim soldiers resigned from the Indian Army. We found no official statement from the Indian Army or the Ministry of Defence confirming such resignations. Additionally, the statement attributed to Chief of Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi has been fabricated and does not appear in his original speech. The viral claim is therefore misleading and based on false information.

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Claim

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An X user shared the viral graphic with the caption, “Under the guise of ‘Bhagwakaran’ (saffronisation), RSS has wanted a Hindu Rashtra for 100 years. Since 2014, the process of ‘Hindu purification’ has begun. Agniveer recruitment is being filled with RSS-BJP supporters. Twenty thousand Sikh and Muslim soldiers have resigned from the Indian Army, creating job opportunities for RSS and BJP supporters.”

Post Link:

https://x.com/RatnakarGedam/status/2078659496801661426?s=20 

https://archive.ph/submit/?url 

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Fact Check

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To verify the claim, we conducted keyword-based searches on Google using terms related to the alleged resignation of 20,000 Sikh and Muslim soldiers from the Indian Army. Our search found no credible news reports supporting the claim. We also found no official statement from the Indian Army or the Ministry of Defence confirming that such resignations had taken place. During the research , we located the original video of General Upendra Dwivedi, published by the news agency IANS. In the video, the Army Chief is addressing the Delhi Defence Dialogue, where he discusses modern warfare, emerging military technologies, future security challenges, and land warfare strategy.

His remarks are entirely focused on defence preparedness, technological advancements, and strategic military issues. At no point does he mention the resignation of 20,000 Sikh or Muslim soldiers, the Delhi riots, or any of the claims circulating on social media.

https://x.com/ians_india/status/1988566879053693282?s=20

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The viral quote attributed to General Dwivedi does not appear anywhere in his speech and has been fabricated.

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Conclusion

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Our research  found that the claim alleging 20,000 Sikh and Muslim soldiers resigned from the Indian Army is false.There is no credible evidence that such mass resignations took place, and General Upendra Dwivedi never made the statement attributed to him in the viral posts. The claim is based on a fabricated quote and is being circulated to mislead the public.

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Executive Summary

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A video is being widely shared on social media linking it to a Muharram procession in India. The video shows a person engulfed in flames, with users claiming that an individual was deliberately set on fire during a Muharram procession in India. Several social media users are circulating the clip with communal claims. CyberPeace Research Wing  research  found that the viral claim is misleading. The video does not show any incident of a person being deliberately burned during a Muharram procession. In reality, it is from Deoria, Uttar Pradesh, where a performer sustained burn injuries while performing stunts during a Muharram procession.

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Claim:

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On X (formerly Twitter), a user posted the viral video on 3 June 2026, claiming: “Not Bangladesh, this is India where a person is being burned alive during a Muharram procession.” The post link, archive link, and screenshots are provided below. https://x.com/singh_kikki/status/2070753631167541586 , https://archive.ph/vP3bZ 

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Fact Check:

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For verification, we extracted multiple keyframes from the video and conducted a reverse image search using Google Lens. During the search, we found the same video published on the Public app on 27 June 2026. According to the report, the incident took place on Malviya Road in Deoria city, Uttar Pradesh, during a Muharram procession, where a member of the 5-Star Club akhara, Saddam (24), a resident of Bans Deoria, suffered burn injuries while performing stunts involving fire. The report further stated that members of the akhara immediately rescued him and arranged first aid. Police confirmed that his condition is stable and that the incident was accidental. No other untoward incident was reported, and all Muharram processions were conducted peacefully. A statement by Circle Officer (City), Sanjay Kumar Reddy, was also included in the report. https://public.app/video/sp_zh7dywam0a2pb 

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In our subsequent research, we found a report published on Dainik Bhaskar's website with the same claim. A link and screenshot of the post are provided below. https://www.bhaskar.com/amp/local/uttar-pradesh/deoria/news/deoria-youth-burns-muharram-procession-stunt-138296624.html

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Finally, we also found an official post from the Deoria Police X handle confirming the incident. The police stated that a performer from the 5-Star Club akhara was injured while performing stunts on Malviya Road and was immediately given first aid. His condition is stable, and no other incident occurred. https://x.com/DeoriaPolice/status/2070521290864377982 

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Conclusion:

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The research  clearly found that the viral video does not show a person being deliberately burned during a Muharram procession. The footage is from Deoria, Uttar Pradesh, where a performer was accidentally injured during a fire stunt.

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Introduction

Deepfake technology, which combines the words "deep learning" and "fake," uses highly developed artificial intelligence—specifically, generative adversarial networks (GANs)—to produce computer-generated content that is remarkably lifelike, including audio and video recordings. Because it can provide credible false information, there are concerns about its misuse, including identity theft and the transmission of fake information. Cybercriminals leverage AI tools and technologies for malicious activities or for committing various cyber frauds. By such misuse of advanced technologies such as AI, deepfake, and voice clones. Such new cyber threats have emerged. 

India Topmost destination for deepfake attacks

According to Sumsub’s identity fraud report 2023, a well-known digital identity verification company with headquarters in the UK. India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan have become an important participants in the Asia-Pacific identity fraud scene with India’s fraud rate growing exponentially by 2.99% from 2022 to 2023. They are among the top ten nations most impacted by the use of deepfake technology. Deepfake technology is being used in a significant number of cybercrimes, according to the newly released Sumsub Identity Fraud Report for 2023, and this trend is expected to continue in the upcoming year. This highlights the need for increased cybersecurity awareness and safeguards as identity fraud poses an increasing concern in the area. 

How Deeepfake Works 

Deepfakes are a fascinating and worrisome phenomenon that have emerged in the modern digital landscape. These realistic-looking but wholly artificial videos have become quite popular in the last few months. Such realistic-looking, but wholly artificial, movies have been ingrained in the very fabric of our digital civilisation as we navigate its vast landscape. The consequences are enormous and the attraction is irresistible.  

Deep Learning Algorithms

Deepfakes examine large datasets, frequently pictures or videos of a target person, using deep learning techniques, especially Generative Adversarial Networks. By mimicking and learning from gestures, speech patterns, and facial expressions, these algorithms can extract valuable information from the data. By using sophisticated approaches, generative models create material that mixes seamlessly with the target context. Misuse of this technology, including the dissemination of false information, is a worry. Sophisticated detection techniques are becoming more and more necessary to separate real content from modified content as deepfake capabilities improve.

Generative Adversarial Networks

Deepfake technology is based on GANs, which use a dual-network design. Made up of a discriminator and a generator, they participate in an ongoing cycle of competition. The discriminator assesses how authentic the generated information is, whereas the generator aims to create fake material, such as realistic voice patterns or facial expressions. The process of creating and evaluating continuously leads to a persistent improvement in Deepfake's effectiveness over time. The whole deepfake production process gets better over time as the discriminator adjusts to become more perceptive and the generator adapts to produce more and more convincing content. 

 Effect on Community

The extensive use of Deepfake technology has serious ramifications for several industries. As technology develops, immediate action is required to appropriately manage its effects. And promoting ethical use of technologies. This includes strict laws and technological safeguards. Deepfakes are computer trickery that mimics prominent politicians' statements or videos. Thus, it's a serious issue since it has the potential to spread instability and make it difficult for the public to understand the true nature of politics. Deepfake technology has the potential to generate totally new characters or bring stars back to life for posthumous roles in the entertainment industry. It gets harder and harder to tell fake content from authentic content, which makes it simpler for hackers to trick people and businesses.

Ongoing Deepfake Assaults In India

Deepfake videos continue to target popular celebrities, Priyanka Chopra is the most recent victim of this unsettling trend. Priyanka's deepfake adopts a different strategy than other examples including actresses like Rashmika Mandanna, Katrina Kaif, Kajol, and Alia Bhatt. Rather than editing her face in contentious situations, the misleading film keeps her look the same but modifies her voice and replaces real interview quotes with made-up commercial phrases. The deceptive video shows Priyanka promoting a product and talking about her yearly salary, highlighting the worrying development of deepfake technology and its possible effects on prominent personalities.

Actions Considered by Authorities

A PIL was filed requesting the Delhi High Court that access to websites that produce deepfakes be blocked. The petitioner's attorney argued in court that the government should at the very least establish some guidelines to hold individuals accountable for their misuse of deepfake and AI technology. He also proposed that websites should be asked to identify information produced through AI as such and that they should be prevented from producing illegally. A division bench highlighted how complicated the problem is and suggested the government (Centre) to arrive at a balanced solution without infringing the right to freedom of speech and expression (internet).  

Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that new laws and guidelines would be implemented by the government to curb the dissemination of deepfake content. He presided over a meeting involving social media companies to talk about the problem of deepfakes. "We will begin drafting regulation immediately, and soon, we are going to have a fresh set of regulations for deepfakes. this might come in the way of amending the current framework or ushering in new rules, or a new law," he stated.

Prevention and Detection Techniques

To effectively combat the growing threat posed by the misuse of deepfake technology, people and institutions should place a high priority on developing critical thinking abilities, carefully examining visual and auditory cues for discrepancies, making use of tools like reverse image searches, keeping up with the latest developments in deepfake trends, and rigorously fact-check reputable media sources. Important actions to improve resistance against deepfake threats include putting in place strong security policies, integrating cutting-edge deepfake detection technologies, supporting the development of ethical AI, and encouraging candid communication and cooperation. We can all work together to effectively and mindfully manage the problems presented by deepfake technology by combining these tactics and adjusting the constantly changing terrain.

Conclusion

Advanced artificial intelligence-powered deepfake technology produces extraordinarily lifelike computer-generated information, raising both creative and moral questions. Misuse of tech or deepfake presents major difficulties such as identity theft and the propagation of misleading information, as demonstrated by examples in India, such as the latest deepfake video involving Priyanka Chopra. It is important to develop critical thinking abilities, use detection strategies including analyzing audio quality and facial expressions, and keep up with current trends in order to counter this danger. A thorough strategy that incorporates fact-checking, preventative tactics, and awareness-raising is necessary to protect against the negative effects of deepfake technology. Important actions to improve resistance against deepfake threats include putting in place strong security policies, integrating cutting-edge deepfake detection technologies, supporting the development of ethical AI, and encouraging candid communication and cooperation. We can all work together to effectively and mindfully manage the problems presented by deepfake technology by combining these tactics and making adjustments to the constantly changing terrain. Creating a true cyber-safe environment for netizens. 

References:

• https://yourstory.com/2023/11/unveiling-deepfake-technology-impact
• https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/celebrities/story/deepfake-alert-priyanka-chopra-falls-prey-after-rashmika-mandanna-katrina-kaif-and-alia-bhatt-2472293-2023-12-05
• https://www.csoonline.com/article/1251094/deepfakes-emerge-as-a-top-security-threat-ahead-of-the-2024-us-election.html
• https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/hc-unwilling-to-step-in-to-curb-deepfakes-delhi-high-court/articleshow/105739942.cms
• https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-among-top-targets-of-deepfake-identity-fraud-2472241-2023-12-05
• https://sumsub.com/fraud-report-2023/