KEY POINTS
- Police investigation in Belagavi confirmed no attack took place at Colonel Sofiya Qureshi’s family home.
- Fake news was spread by a pro-Pakistan X account based in Canada, later deleted after police warning.
- RSS falsely blamed without evidence; authorities exposed the propaganda attempt to create communal tension.
In the age of social media, lies can spread faster than the truth. One such example has recently come to light where false allegations were made against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), blaming the organisation for an imaginary attack on Indian Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi’s family home in Belagavi, Karnataka. What started as a tweet by an anonymous handle quickly turned into an international misinformation campaign. But a detailed investigation and quick action by the Indian police exposed the lies and brought the truth forward.
The False Claims: Fabricated News to Tarnish India’s Image
It all began with a post on X (formerly Twitter) by a user named Anis Uddin, located in British Columbia, Canada. The post claimed that “RSS goons” attacked Colonel Sofiya Qureshi’s home in Belagavi and brutally beat her son. The post even attached an image of a vandalised room to make the lie look real. It was a deliberate attempt to trigger communal hatred and show RSS in a bad light.
Several other accounts joined in this campaign of lies. Among them were:
@PetsLover156 (Victoria) – Claimed her son Sameer was hospitalized after an RSS attack at 3 AM.
@JN_Araain (7,410 Followers) – Claimed the house was torched and family was moved to Delhi for protection.
@BattlesInsight (1,073 Followers) – Spread fake information about a threat to her daughter Haneema.
@ak_mohsin – Shared false allegations in Urdu, clearly aimed at Pakistani audiences.
@DrRumi95 (24.1K Followers) – Claimed Colonel Qureshi was on an RSS hit list and had been ordered to stay silent.
@ShahzadAMaken76 (3,263 Followers) – Directly blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and RSS for the incident, calling them “terrorists.”
@QadeerAwan566 – Connected the fake incident with political blame on India’s leadership.
@khubaanionly – Spread misleading claims using the phrase “Breaking” to add urgency.
All these tweets were based on lies. There was no attack, no fire, no hospitalization, and no RSS involvement.
Dr. Bheemashankar S. Guled, the Superintendent of Police, Belagavi, acted quickly after noticing the fake post. He immediately sent a police team to Colonel Qureshi’s family home in Gokak, a part of Belagavi.
“This is a fake news. As SP of Belagavi, I would like to warn the persons involved in creating this post, which is fake, to delete it immediately,” tweeted Dr. Guled.
The family was found safe. No sign of any attack. Everything was normal at the location. The post was immediately deleted after the police exposed the truth.
Why was such fake news spread?
This false campaign seems part of a larger pattern of misinformation aimed at disturbing peace in India, especially when tensions rise with Pakistan. According to a recent PTI report, Maharashtra cybercrime officials have identified at least seven Pakistan-backed hacker groups responsible for over 15 lakh cyber attacks on Indian infrastructure after the Pahalgam terror attack. These attacks included malware, DDoS attacks, and GPS spoofing.
Along with these cyber threats, social media is being used to spread communal hatred by targeting patriotic Indian organisations like the RSS. The aim is to divide Indians on religious lines and create a false narrative of violence and discrimination.
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi is a respected Indian Army officer, born in Vadodara, Gujarat, and married to Colonel Tajuddin Bagewadi from Belagavi. She has played an important role in India’s response after the Pahalgam attack and is appreciated by people across the country for her dedication and bravery.
Even BJP National General Secretary BL Santhosh praised her:
“In a matter of 7 days, she is an icon for the young generation. Not just by press briefing but by her life and legacy of her family. Daughter of Vadodara, daughter-in-law of Belagavi, Pride of Bharat.”
Those who spread fake news have been exposed. Their goal was never to help anyone, not even Colonel Qureshi. Their aim was to defame RSS, create communal hatred, and damage India’s global image.
People must understand that social media is being weaponised by some foreign-supported individuals and groups. Spreading fake news is not freedom of speech, it’s a crime. The government, police, and cyber teams are closely monitoring such handles. Legal action may soon follow.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has served the nation for nearly a century. From relief work during floods and earthquakes to inspiring nationalist values, RSS is a patriotic organisation that promotes unity, not hate.
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