*JK's Poonch Teacher Killed in Shelling Wrongly Branded 'Terrorist' by National Media*

Aadil Abdullah 

Poonch, May 8: The recent escalation along the Line of Control (LoC) has not only claimed civilian lives but also stirred controversy after national television channels wrongly identified a civilian victim as a terrorist.

Qari Mohammad Iqbal, an Islamic scholar and teacher at Jamia Zia-ul-Uloom seminary in Baila village of Poonch district, was killed in cross-border shelling from Pakistan on Tuesday, local authorities confirmed. The 45-year-old religious teacher was among the 13 civilians who lost their lives amid the sudden flare-up of hostilities in the region.

However, multiple Indian news outlets, including ABP News and Zee News, broadcasted Iqbal’s death as that of a “terrorist commander” neutralised in Indian airstrikes — a claim made without verification, sparking sharp criticism from civil society and fact-checking groups.

The incorrect reporting has angered residents and relatives of the deceased, who say the channels have tarnished the image of an innocent man. "Qari Sahib was a humble teacher known for his dedication to religious education. To label him a terrorist is not only factually wrong but an insult to his family and the community," said a neighbour in Baila.

AltNews co-founder Mohammed Zubair, known for exposing media misinformation, called the reports “shameful.” “Qari Mohammad Iqbal was a civilian killed in Pakistani shelling. The media’s misrepresentation is a new low,” he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Locals say Iqbal had spent over two decades teaching Quranic studies and was respected across Poonch for his quiet demeanor and community work. “He was never involved in any political or militant activity,” said a local imam, who urged news organisations to issue a public apology.

So far, none of the channels named in the reports have issued a clarification or retraction, despite mounting pressure online and offline.

The incident has reignited concerns about the role of national media during conflict, especially in sensitive regions like Jammu and Kashmir. 

Many are demanding accountability and calling on journalistic bodies to take note of the misreporting that has added to the trauma of an already grieving family.