NEW DELHI: The fact-finding wing of the Press Information Bureau on Thursday debunked a fake video of Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, claiming it was an AI-generated clip that falsely claimed he had made a statement on the alleged custodial death of detained Ladakh climate change activist Sonam Wangchuk.In a post on The fact-checking agency further stressed that the Army Chief had not made any such statement and appealed to the public not to share unverified content aimed at spreading misinformation and undermining confidence in the Indian Army.
A fake post shared by the Pakistan-based account read: “Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi’s condolences after Sonam Wangchuk’s death in custody is now being suppressed by the media. Even the military seems tired of Hindutva fascists imposing their own agenda.”In the fabricated video, General Dwivedi was heard saying: “I deeply regret the death of Mr. Sonam Wangchuk in state custody. His death has caused understandable concern for people across Ladakh and other parts of the country. As Chief of Staff, I extend my condolences to his family and all who knew him. Every life lost in custody demands clarity and accountability. I have called on the central government to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation.” To maintain trust in our institutions, all facts must be verified. May his family find strength during this difficult time. ”However, PIB confirmed that the original speech was completely irrelevant. The original video was posted by news agency PTI on the same day, showing General Dwivedi speaking at the 2025 Chanakya Defense Dialogue.In the original video, Dwivedi said, “The military is further strengthening this troika of transformation by removing restraints, increasing range, funding start-ups, and participating in national technology missions.”PIB warned that such content is deliberately created to spread false stories and urged social media users to rely only on official and reliable sources for accurate information.“Please be cautious. Do not share or engage with unverified content. For accurate information, rely only on official and trusted sources,” PIB further wrote in the post. Wangchuk was detained on September 26, two days after violent protests in Leh demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh left four people dead and more than 90 injured.Authorities have accused him of inciting the riot. He was transferred to a jail in Jodhpur, Rajasthan and arrested under the National Security Act (NSA). The National Security Act (NSA) allows for preventive detention for up to 12 months in cases deemed to pose a threat to national security.On November 23, the Leh Apex Body (LAB), the group leading the agitation, submitted a draft proposal to the Home Ministry stating that a “general amnesty” for Wangchuck and others detained in the September 24 riots is a key condition for continued talks with the Center.The document claimed that the release of the detainees would help “restore peace and build confidence” in Ladakh.
