# Intelligence Agencies Probe Network of 5,000 Fake Accounts Amid SIR Protests

Officials cited in the report alleged that the accounts were being used to circulate unverified claims about police firing, lathi charges and the use of tear gas during protests. They said such posts could inflame tensions, provoke young demonstrators and trigger unrest in other parts of the country.

According to the officials, investigators examining the accounts believe the activity involves a mix of Indian and Pakistani-linked handles. They described the suspected operation as different from earlier activity, when fake accounts were allegedly concentrated around hubs in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

The report said investigators had identified several locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered areas as possible sources of the activity, including Bhimber, Rawalakot, Tarakhal, Sialkot, Kolti, Mendhar and Peshawar. Officials alleged that individuals in these locations were being recruited to create accounts and circulate material provided to them.

The accounts were also allegedly instructed to tag users in other countries to increase the reach of the posts. Officials warned that misleading claims could spread widely before fact-checkers were able to establish their accuracy, allowing false narratives to gain traction.

### Rahul Gandhi Claim Cited as an Example

One example cited by officials concerned social media posts claiming that Delhi Police had opened fire during protests and that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had been injured. The officials alleged that the posts were intended to provoke supporters in other locations and potentially encourage further demonstrations or violence.

The report also alleged that the suspected operation extended beyond accounts based in Pakistan. Officials claimed that some Indians had been paid to create content critical of the Indian state, describing the alleged activity as part of what they called “Operation Ground Wire”.

The claims could not be independently verified for this report. The material provided did not detail the accounts' identities, evidence of their alleged links to the ISI, or the reported scale of the operation.

### Fact-Checking and Monitoring Challenges

Officials cited in the report said the volume of accounts involved challenged intelligence agencies and state police, which were reportedly monitoring and flagging suspicious profiles.

They also pointed to how quickly social media content can circulate during demonstrations. Unverified reports shared during tense situations can reach audiences far from the incident, potentially fuelling reactions among people who lack direct information about events on the ground.

The report further highlighted differences in access to timely verification, noting that misleading claims may continue circulating through social networks and word of mouth even after fact-checkers publish corrections.

The allegations underscore the importance of verifying claims about police action, injuries and protest-related incidents before sharing them. Establishing whether an account is coordinated or inauthentic requires evidence, and claims about foreign intelligence involvement must be distinguished from verified findings.

Indian intelligence agencies and state police are reportedly continuing to monitor the suspected accounts as protests over the electoral-roll revision remain a focus of online discussion.