Dawood Ibrahim’s Death
Just a couple of days ago, social media was buzzing with the news of death of India’s most wanted
gangster and terror mastermind who escaped to Pakistan when life became too hot to handle here. The
claims and counterclaims started after a screenshot went viral with news of Dawood’s death in a
hospital due to alleged poisoning. It was apparently a message from none less than the caretaker PM of
Pakistan, Anwar ul Haq Kakar. The message’s screenshot that quickly went viral was in X (formerly
Twitter) and read, “The Messiah of humanity, dear to every Pakistani heart, our beloved His Excellency
Dawood Ibrahim passed away due to poisoned by unknown. He breathed his last in a hospital in Karachi.
May Allah grant him the highest position in Jannat. Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.”
Though it was shared extensively by several users on many social media platforms, it has subsequently
been verified by several fact-checking agencies and declared as fake. Digital Forensics Research and
Analytics Center or DFRAC, an independent fact-checking site took to X and said that the viral tweet
attributed to the Pakistani PM is fake and does not match with his verified X handle. DRFAC said that the
fake tweet has the wrong spelling of the Pak PM’s name. The screenshot spells his surname as ‘Kakkar’,
whereas the Pak PM spells his name as Anwar ul Haq Kakar. Also, the last post by Kakar was on
December 16, as per the official X handle.
Several crime journalists have also posted pieces and blogs on why we should take the news with a
pinch of salt. In the past, the don has been bumped off falsely on at least five occasions.
CHHOTA SHAKEEL ON NEWS OF DAWOOD’S DEATH
In an interview with a news channel, Dawood Ibrahim’s close aide Chhota Shakeel has refuted rumours
on the underworld don’s poisoning and/or death. Chhota Shakeel was quoted as saying, “Dawood is
alive and healthy. Even I was shocked to see this fake news. I met him multiple times yesterday.”
FAMILY ALSO REFUTES CLAIMS OF HIS DEATH
Dawood Ibrahim’s family has also issued a statement regarding the matter. They have clarified that
though he is unwell with several health complications, the news of his poisoning and getting
hospitalised owing to it is fake.
Nonetheless, the fake news has brought back the spotlight once more on the underworld gangster who
terrorised Mumbai from the late 80s- 90s. From deep links in the film industry to extortion of big
industrial organisations, he, along with his gang members had a finger in each pie. He was the
mastermind behind the Mumbai blasts.
Bengali