Fact Check: Indian Army shoots militants point blank after Pahalgam terror attack? No, video is old and unrelated
A video showing a man in an Army uniform shooting down individuals has been circulating on social media, claiming it depicts the beginning of retaliation by the Indian Army following the Pahalgam terror attack.
By Md Mahfooz Alam
Claim:The video shows the Indian Army shooting militants at point-blank range following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
Fact:The claim is false. The video is old and unrelated.
(Content Warning: The article contains graphic visuals, which some readers may find distressing; viewer discretion is advised. Due to its sensitive nature, to respect privacy and avoid further dissemination of potentially harmful content, we have chosen not to include direct links to the social media posts in this story.)
Hyderabad: Following the deadly terror attack near the Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, which claimed the lives of at least 26 people, including 25 Indian nationals and one Nepalese citizen, and left several others injured, a graphic video has been circulating on social media. The footage shows a man in an Army uniform shooting individuals lying on the ground at point-blank range in a snow-covered mountainous area. Users sharing the video claim it depicts the Indian Armyās retaliation for the terror attack.
A Facebook user shared the video on April 23, writing, āThe scene that brings peace to the mind has arrived ā New Indiaās revenge has begun. We will enter their homes and eliminate them. Jai Hind, Indian Army!ā (Archive)
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the claim is false, as the video is old and unrelated.
A reverse image search of the videoās keyframes led us to it being published on the website, BestGore.fun, on August 19, 2022. The site hosts graphic and explicit content, including videos and images depicting death, violence and gore.
We also found the video shared by the X account Baba Banaras in 2023 and 2024. This account is known for regularly spreading misinformation and has been fact-checked by NewsMeter multiple times. However, we are referencing these posts to establish that the video is not recent.
We also found the same visual of shooting at a point-blank range in a YouTube video published on March 19, 2025, and a Facebook video posted on December 18, 2020.
NewsMeter could not independently verify the exact date or location of the video. However, it can be concluded that the video is old and does not depict the Indian Armyās retaliation following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
