Taking to X(Twitter), a Pak-based handle with the username @NavCom24 claimed: “09 Indian special forces commandos have been killed in Udhampur during a fight with #Kashmiri Freedom Fighters. The Hunt goes on…”

Furthermore, the claim was also shared by other users on X.

Fact-Check

To determine the reality of the above viral claim, the DFRAC team searched some keywords on Google. During this, we found some recently published media reports from NDTV, India TV, and India.com.

Media reports by NDTV, India TV, and India.com

According to a recently published media report by NDTV, a village defense guard (VDG) member was killed in a gunfight with terrorists in a remote village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district early Sunday, officials said. A massive search operation is underway to flush out the terrorists, who are believed to have recently infiltrated from Pakistan, they said.

The report further mentioned: “The exchange of fire was reported from Panara village of Basantgarh when a patrolling party of police and VDGs confronted the suspected terrorists around 7:45 am, the officials said. According to them, following an initial exchange of fire that lasted over half an hour, the terrorists fled deep into the forest area and were being chased by the security forces. VDG member Mohd Sharief, a resident of Khaned, was critically injured in the firing and later succumbed to injuries, the officials stated”

Moreover, reports from India TV and India.com also stated similar facts regarding the death of a village defense guard during a gunfight between security officials and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur.

Not only this, but we also came across a tweet on the X handle of Zonal Police Media Center Jammu mourning over the killing of the Village Defense Guard. In the tweet, the handle stated: “Saddened by the loss of Mohammad Shareef, a brave member of the Village Defense Guard, who attained #matyrdom in the line of duty at Chochru Gala Heights. Our thoughts are with his family. Reinforcements are on site, and the area is secured.

Conclusion

It is evident from DFRAC’s fact-check that the viral claim stating special 9 Indian special forces commandos have been killed in the ongoing operation in J&K’s Udhampur has been misleadingly shared on X. A village defense guard has been killed in a gunfight with terrorists in Udhampur.

Hence, the claim made by users including a Pak–based handle is false.

Analysis: Misleading