 "Amritsar train mishap: Fake news on 'Muslim' driver circulated on social media; news agency shares misleading 'eyewitness' account")
Following the Amritsar train tragedy , in which at least 61 people lost their lives during Dussehra celebrations on Friday, a number of false and misleading claims have been made by Twitter users and a mainstream media outlet. One of the false claims being circulated on social media is to do with — no surprises here — the religion of the driver. Many people posted tweets saying the driver of the train involved in the accident was a man named Imtiaz Ali, by implication, a Muslim.
We want CBI investigation immediately.
— Debol Mukherjee (@Debol_Mukherjee) October 20, 2018
Arrest all the persons involved including driver Imtiaz Ali for investigation. https://t.co/5b62xu1J7Y
It may have some plot need to check as the moment in which train passed we can see CCTv recording so driver imtiazAli claiming he can't see people is lame @NIA_India
— pravin.c (@PravinGyan) October 21, 2018
Others claimed that the driver’s name was Imtiaz Khan, not Ali.
In response to this comment, when another Twitter user pointed that this was not the driver’s actual name, Tripathi said, “U could have ignored it. (sic)” The driver of the train involved in the Amritsar tragedy is Arvind Kumar. In another instance, news agency ANI had, on Friday, tweeted a video of a person commenting on the train accident and described him as an eyewitness. Later, the agency clarified that the person was BJP spokesperson Rajesh Honey, saying he was present at the spot when the accident took place. However, Honey himself posted a tweet on the day after the Amritsar tragedy, saying he had reached the spot 20 minutes after the train ran over revellers at Amritsar’s Joda Phatak.
#AmritsarTrainAccident .I was on spot in 20 min of incident. Scene there were unexplainable & have left Heart & Mind with indispensable thoughts for rest of my life.
— Rajesh Honey (@rajeshhoney123) October 20, 2018
The culprit,the organizers should be held responsible for arranging the event irresponsibly #PunjabTrainMishap.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe Congress has not held back on its criticism of the Railways, accusing it of shirking responsibility . After visiting the site of the accident at Joda Phatak on Friday, Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha had absolved the railways of all responsibility and ruled out any action against the driver of the train and an investigation into the incident.
 "US ready to ‘impose costs’ on Russia if war in Ukraine drags on, says Hegseth")
 "US tells Hamas to stop violence against Gaza civilians and disarm 'without delay'")
 "China seizes 60,000 maps mislabelling Taiwan, omitting South China Sea islands")
 "Syria’s Sharaa pledges to honor Russia ties, seeks economic and military support in Kremlin visit")
 "US ready to ‘impose costs’ on Russia if war in Ukraine drags on, says Hegseth")
 "US tells Hamas to stop violence against Gaza civilians and disarm 'without delay'")
 "China seizes 60,000 maps mislabelling Taiwan, omitting South China Sea islands")
 "Syria’s Sharaa pledges to honor Russia ties, seeks economic and military support in Kremlin visit")
