Khamenei Assassination Protests: J&K Police File FIR Against Media for Spreading ‘False Narratives’

Srinagar: To curb the spread of false news and fabricated reports, Jammu and Kashmir Police have launched a crackdown on certain media outlets and individuals accused of deliberately circulating misleading information about protests in the Valley following the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 

Police confirmed that an FIR has been registered at the Cyber Police Station, citing a “systematic effort” to push unverified narratives intended to incite unrest and disrupt public order.

Officials said the misinformation campaign poses a serious threat to peace, security, and communal harmony.

Though names have not been disclosed, police revealed that owners of news outlets and journalists are being summoned for questioning. Several social media profiles have already been identified, with individuals linked to them called to the cyber cell for interrogation. 

A day before the FIR, police issued an advisory urging media organizations to act responsibly and avoid publishing unverified information, speculation, or sensational headlines that could trigger panic.

The advisory stressed that all reports must be verified with reliable sources before dissemination.

Spokesperson warned that spreading fake news or inflammatory content will invite strict legal consequences. Citizens and media houses were reminded to rely only on official channels to prevent the disturbance of public order.

Pertinently, police action comes against the backdrop of widespread protests across the Kashmir Valley after Khamenei’s assassination in a joint US-Israeli airstrike on Saturday morning. Initially peaceful, the demonstrations later turned violent, forcing police to use tear gas to disperse crowds.