Rumour of Yasin Malik’s Death Attributed to BBC Urdu Is False

CLAIM

Amid unrest in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, a rumour has been doing the rounds on social media, which claims that Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik had died in Tihar Jail.

A video uploaded by a YouTube user claimed that Malik had been killed in an Indian jail. The information was attributed to BBC. The narration in the video says : ‘Hurriyat rehnuma Yasin Malik ko Bhartiya Jail ke andar shaheed kar dia gaya hai. BBC ka dawa.’

(Translation: Hurriyat leader Yasin Malik was martyred in Indian jail, claims BBC)

(Click here to get all the live updates on Kashmir unrest)

On Sunday, 4 August, Mushaal Hussein Mullick tweeted a video claiming that her husband Yasin Malik, who is presently in Tihar Jail, was critically ill and claimed that there were rumours about his death.

Pakistan news organisations including The Express Tribune and Pakistan Today reported about Yasin Malik on a ‘slow death trial,’ quoting his wife.

My humble appeal to know about the condition and where abouts of my critically ill husband Mohammad Yasin Malik who is in Tihar death cell with strong rumours of his death. #KashmirIssue #KashmirUnderThreat pic.twitter.com/CYRSAYDgsP

— Mushaal Hussein Mullick (@MushaalMullick) August 4, 2019

BBC URDU DENIES THE CLAIM

On Sunday, 4 August, BBC Urdu took to Twitter and informed that the news organisation had not reported about the death of Yasin Malik. The organisation further urged people to not fall for stories on social media without verifying them.

The claim circulating on social media that the BBC has reported the death of Yasin Malik is fake. We urge everyone to verify stories they see on social media by visiting the BBC News website.

— BBC News اردو (@BBCUrdu) August 4, 2019

DG Prison, Tihar jail also said that the rumour about death of Yasin Malik is completely false and that his health condition is normal.

DG Prisons, Tihar, Delhi: The rumour about the health of Yasin Malik, who is presently lodged in Tihar prison is totally incorrect. His health condition is normal and he is doing fine. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/KWoRM3ege6

— ANI (@ANI) August 4, 2019

Further, Editor, Strategic Affairs & Internal Security, BTVI shared the video of Additional IG Tihar Jail Raj Kumar dismissing rumours of Yasin Malik’s death. Kumar added that Malik’s health condition is “normal” and “he is doing fine”.

#BREAKING: Additional IG Tihar Jail Raj Kumar issues clarification on rumours about terrorist turned separatist Yasin Malik. His health condition is absolutely normal. Rumours are absolutely baseless. pic.twitter.com/jkE0uQhp40

— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) August 4, 2019

WHY IS YASIN MALIK IN TIHAR JAIL?

A Delhi court on 10 April, had remanded Yasin Malik to National Investigation Agency (NIA) custody, in connection with a 2017 terror financing and terror conspiracy case in Jammu and Kashmir.

He was shifted to Delhi's Tihar Jail on 9 April, after the NIA secured his production remand in connection with a case related to funding of separatists and terror groups in Jammu and Kashmir, officials had said.

(With inputs from PTI)

(Not convinced of a post or information you came across online and want it verified? Send us the details on Whatsapp at 9643651818, or e-mail it to us [e-mail] we'll fact-check it for you. You can also read all our fact-checked stories here.)