Fact-check: Accused of Pulwama attack died after constant harassment in the custody?? Discover the Truth here

Amid the phases of Legislative Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, a claim has recently surfaced on social media platform X(formerly Twitter) alleging Bilal Ahmad Kuchey, falsely accused by the NIA in the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, died due to the constant harassment in custody in Jammu and Kashmir. The claim has been shared by several pak-based handles on X.

An account with the username @KashmirEng posted the image of the accused and wrote: “Another life lost in India’s brutal occupation of IIOJK! Bilal Ahmad Kuchey, falsely accused by the NIA, dies after years of relentless harassment in custody. This is not a heart attack—it’s state-sponsored murder. How long will the world stay silent on India’s atrocities?”

Another account with the username @AtbanHanif quote-requoted the post from Hello Pakistan account and wrote: “Bilal Ahmad Kuchey’s death in Kishtwar jail raises serious questions about the treatment of K@shm!ri detainees. Arrested on false charges and sibjected to constant harassment, his death is another dark chapter in Ind!@’s oppression in #IIOJK. International attention is crucial.

Fact-check

The DFRAC team fact-checked the above viral claim. A keyword search on Google regarding the claim led us to some latest reports from Livemint, India TV, Hindustan Times, and India Today.

As per reports, Bilal Ahmad Kuchey, one of the 19 people who were formally charged in the Pulwama terror attack case, died on Monday. Kuchey of Kakapora’s Hajibal village fell sick a few days ago at Kishtwar district jail, where he died due to a heart attack.
He and the other accused, Shakir Bashir, Insha Jan, and Peer Tariq Ahmad Shah had provided logistics and harbored the JeM terrorists in their homes.
The charge sheet was filed under various sections of the Ranbir Penal Code, Arms Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Foreigners Act, and the J&K Public Property (Prevention of Damages) Act.
Notably, none of the reports mentioned the constant harassment of the accused while remaining in custody.

Conclusion

It is evident from DFRAC’s fact-check that the claim has been misleadingly shared on X. The Pulwama attack accused died due to a heart attack, not due to the constant harassment in the custody in Jammu & Kashmir.



Analysis: Misleading