Fact Check: This Military Uniform Doesn't Belong To Wg Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman

While Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman’s return to India has been widely covered by the media, fake news surrounding the issue has not ceased to exist. The Quint reported that it came across a social media post which claimed that Abhinandan’s uniform has been kept at a museum in Pakistan.

An image of a military uniform was shared in a number of Twitter and Facebook posts, which claimed that the uniform belongs to Abhinandan Varthaman and has been kept as “war trophy” at a Pakistani museum.

#AbhinandanVarthaman uniform as war trophy �������� pic.twitter.com/s4bIZ37rZd

— ولید خان ���� (@7yVYiEFW7CelewF) March 5, 2019

However, original tweets by a Pakistani national called by Sheikh Saleem Ahmed makes it clear that the uniform actually belongs to an Israeli pilot Captain Lutz. According to these tweets, a Mirage that was being flown by Captain Lutz had been shot down in April 1974 during air combat by Pakistani pilot Abdus Sattar Alvi.

Pakistan always help Arabs in war against apartheid Israel. Here is a snaps of Air CDRE Abdus Sattar Alvi who shot down Israeli Mirage during air combat on April 1974 in #Syria–#Israel war.Our hearts beat with our Arab Nations including Palestinians.#Palestine#اسرائیل_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/uP6cQToQkM

— Sheikh Saleem Ahmad (@Sagopaak) February 23, 2019

Further, the claim is confirmed by an image in one of the tweets.

Commander in Chief of Syrian Air Force gave uniform/coverall of Israeli Pilot, Captain Lutz as 'War Trophy' to Pakistani Pilot Abdus Sattar Alvi who shot down Israeli jet
during #Syria–#Israel war (1974).We always help our Arab brothers against Israel.#Palestine#اسرائیل_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/VNajKx3QYg

— Sheikh Saleem Ahmad (@Sagopaak) February 23, 2019

Other similar fake viral posts

Earlier, an Image of an old woman crying with joy in front of a Television screen went viral. Several tweets carrying the image said that she is Abhinandan’s mother, who got emotional after hearing the news of his son’s return. It was later found out to be fake.

Another video went viral on the social media which was shared by numerous Indian accounts, claiming falsely that the lady in the video is Abhinandan’s wife. In the video, a woman is seen asking the BJP government not to politicise the sacrifice of soldiers. This woman is not Abhinandan’s wife.

अभिनंदन की पत्नी का संदेश कि सैनिकों के बलिदान पर बीजेपी न करे राजनीति। #Abhinanadan pic.twitter.com/1bA0628I9L

— Yuva Desh (@yuvadesh) February 28, 2019

Various Pakistani media claimed that the Indian fighter planes violated the country’s air space and were shot down by PAF. News channel ARY News flashed an image of a shot-down aircraft. However, a Twitter user pointed out that the photograph of the crashed aircraft was from 2016 when a MiG-27 fighter plane crashed into a building in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur.

The Logical Indian take

As citizens of the country, we have a certain responsibility. While trolls and parody accounts have taken the responsibility upon themselves to share as much false information as possible, it is our responsibility to differentiate between what is true and what isn’t, while making others aware about the issue too.

Creating or sharing fake news is never justified. We have a responsibility to verify everything that we post on the internet. To ensure that our national debate is healthy and well-informed, each and every one of us has a responsibility of treating what we read with a pinch of salt, a spoonful of doubt, and a flood of research.

Also Read: Fact Check: From Fake Images Of IAF Aircraft By Pakistan Media To Woman In A Video Claimed As Abhinandan’s Wife