Wave of arrests and censorship in the wake of operation Sindoor

Even during military operations against Pakistan-administered Kashmir, false reports had already begun to circulate in India. But the repressive measures have continued even after the violence subsided. The government has shut down thousands of accounts and banned Pakistani media. A university professor has been jailed over a critical post, and at least 11 citizens have been arrested on charges of espionage.

New Delhi (AsiaNews) – The arbitrary closure of numerous social media accounts, the arrest of activists and journalists, and, most notably, the 14-day judicial custody imposed on university professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad have reignited debate over freedom of expression in India. A lecturer at Ashoka University in Haryana, Mahmudabad was charged for a post criticising the Indian army’s media management during Operation Sindoor. “I’m very pleased to see so many right-wing commentators applauding Colonel Sofiya Qureshi,” he wrote, “but they should also call for protection of lynching victims, those whose homes have been arbitrarily demolished, and other victims of BJP hate, as fellow Indian citizens.”

The complaint was filed by a member of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, the youth wing of the ruling BJP party. Mahmudabad has been released on bail, with the next hearing scheduled for 27 May. Ashoka University and the opposition Congress party have expressed full support for the professor, describing his post as “thoughtful” and raising concerns over increasing repression of dissent.

Mahmudabad’s case is part of a broader wave of censorship and misinformation that has defined the weeks following Operation Sindoor. After India launched a missile strike on 8 May against Pakistan-administered Kashmir, a flood of false news reports spread across Indian and Pakistani media. Some Indian TV channels aired videos purporting to show the destruction of Karachi’s port, the capture of Islamabad, the arrest of Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, and the takeover of Quetta by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) – none of which actually happened. Similarly, Pakistani media circulated false claims of drone strikes on Indian military bases in Jalandhar and Ambala and the destruction of Indian checkpoints.

Civil society groups and journalists in both countries have attempted to counter the disinformation. In India, platforms such as Alt News, BOOM Live, and The Wire carried out fact-checks on viral content, while in Pakistan, the Digital Rights Foundation issued a guide on recognising fake news. Several international fact-checking organisations also monitored and analysed the sources and veracity of the information being spread.

Indian NGO Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) has filed complaints against six broadcasters – Aaj Tak, ABP News, Times Now Navbharat, NDTV, India TV, and News18 – for airing a four-year-old video of Israel’s Iron Dome system and presenting it as footage of missile defences used during Operation Sindoor.

Two days after the attack, the Indian government asked platform X (formerly Twitter) to block more than 8,000 accounts, including those of international organisations and public figures. X complied with the request, while noting it was an act of censorship and that the government had not explained which posts were allegedly illegal. More than sixteen Pakistani YouTube news channels, including Dawn News, Samaa TV, ARY News, and GeoNews, were also banned for allegedly spreading “provocative” and “misleading” content.

Meanwhile, Indian authorities have announced the arrest of 11 Indian citizens suspected of being part of a spy network working for Pakistan. According to local media, nine arrests were made in the states of Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh, while Punjab’s police chief confirmed the detention of two individuals accused of sharing sensitive information related to Operation Sindoor. Among those arrested is a travel influencer, accused of repeatedly entering Pakistan and maintaining suspicious contacts. According to broadcaster India Today, the arrests are linked to online recruitment efforts luring individuals with promises of financial rewards.

India’s armed forces are currently investigating possible connections between these suspects and the 22 April massacre of tourists in Pahalgam, in Indian-administered Kashmir – the attack that triggered the latest wave of violence.

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