Indian Government Refutes Viral Claim of Israeli Spy Arrest in Saudi Arabia
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New Delhi, March 7 (NationPress) The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday highlighted a viral social media post that was disseminating false claims regarding the supposed arrest of an Indian citizen in Saudi Arabia for alleged espionage on behalf of Israel.
This assertion, which circulated on the platform X, claimed that Saudi officials had detained two individuals connected to Israel's intelligence agency, Mossad, one of whom was an Indian national. The accusation suggested they were involved in a conspiracy to orchestrate bomb attacks to implicate Iran.
Refuting this allegation, the MEA provided a statement and cautioned the public against falling for such misleading information spreading across social media.
"Exercise caution against such outlandish and unverified claims circulating on social media!" the ministry urged as it addressed the viral post.
This misinformation is part of a larger trend related to the escalating tensions in West Asia. The specific claim regarding the detention of an Indian national lacks credible evidence or confirmation from any official bodies, according to a government representative.
The misleading narrative originated from an account on X named 'Amoxicillin', which made the claim about the purported arrest of the two alleged Mossad operatives.
This account has a history of sharing politically biased content, often promoting narratives that favor the Congress party while disseminating unverified claims.
It frequently posts messages lauding Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, emphasizing his political remarks with accolades for the Congress leader.
In multiple posts, the account has also characterized Rahul Gandhi's statements as pointed critiques of what it labels "Sanghis," a term commonly used online to refer to supporters of the BJP, the RSS, or other right-wing factions.
Simultaneously, the account shares content that mocks or disparages the BJP and its supporters, often using expressions like "Sanghi ecosystem" or "bhakts" in its commentary.
As misinformation spreads rapidly on social media, the MEA's clarification comes at a time when authorities are urging citizens to be vigilant, particularly during times of heightened global tensions, when unverified claims can quickly gain popularity.