Fake news on attack on Kashmiri students in Iran sparks panic in J&K

Taking advantage of the prevailing chaos and uncertainty in West Asia due to the ongoing war, some anti-social elements are spreading fake news about attacks on Kashmiri students stranded in violence-plagued Iran.

On Saturday evening, some anti-social elements on social media platforms circulated fake news about the killing of a student in Iran. However, after verification, the report was found to be fake and baseless.

Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) National Convenor Nasir Khuehami on Sunday clarified that reports circulating about the alleged killing of a Kashmiri student from Inderkote Sumbal in Iran were completely false.

In a post on X, Khuehami wrote, "The news circulating about the killing of a Kashmiri student from the Inderkote Sumbal area of Kashmir in Iran is completely fake and baseless. We have verified the matter through available channels, and no such incident has taken place."

He added that while the situation in parts of Iran remains tense due to ongoing escalation and airstrikes, all Indian students, including those from Kashmir, are safe.

"The Indian Embassy in Tehran and officials from the Ministry of External Affairs are in regular contact with the students and are closely monitoring the situation," the post added.

Khuehami urged people to refrain from spreading unverified information and rumours, saying such misinformation only creates unnecessary panic among families and the wider community.

Dy CM assures efforts to evacuate J&K students from Iran

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Sunday said the government is closely monitoring the situation of Indian citizens, particularly students from Jammu and Kashmir who are currently stranded in Iran amid the ongoing conflict in the region.

Speaking to reporters, Choudhary said the government remains in constant touch with the concerned authorities regarding the safety of the students and other Indians in the affected areas.

He said the situation on the ground remains complex, which has made immediate evacuation difficult.

"We are keeping a strict vigil and receiving regular updates about the stranded students and other Indians, particularly those from Jammu and Kashmir. We are concerned about their safety, but the situation there is complex, and evacuation is not possible at the moment," Choudhary said.

He added that the government will take steps to evacuate them as soon as the situation improves.

"As soon as conditions become favourable, the stranded people will be brought back safely," he said.

Mehbooba Mufti urges PM to evacuate students

Earlier, People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure the safe return of students from Jammu and Kashmir stranded in Iran.

In a post on X, Mufti said that as the situation rapidly deteriorates in Iran, "thousands of students from J&K studying there are currently stranded."

"Urge PM @narendramodi ji for his personal intervention to ensure their safe passage home and also request @MEAIndia and @DrSJaishankar to initiate evacuation efforts at the earliest," she wrote.

Mufti's appeal comes amid growing concerns among parents in Kashmir, who are urging the authorities to facilitate the safe return of students to India.

On Saturday, several parents met the Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, demanding that their children be evacuated from Iran.

The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association said that although advisories were issued on February 23, urging Indian nationals to leave Iran due to rising tensions, a considerable number of students were unable to depart.