Retired Indian general targeted with false dismissal claims

Published on May 8, 2025 at 11:39
2 min read
By Masroor GILANI, AFP Pakistan

India has not sacked a military general for allegedly failing to prevent the deadly attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that led to the worst violence in decades between New Delhi and Islamabad, contrary to false online claims. AFP found multiple news reports that announced Suchindra Kumar's retirement before the assault happened.

"Amidst a severe intelligence failure, Indian Army has wasted no time in sacking experienced Northern Command, Commander Lieutenant General Suchindra Kumar from command," says a Facebook post shared April 29, 2025.

"He has been replaced by incumbent DCOAS Strategy Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma who was rushed from New Delhi yesterday," it adds, along with pictures of the two men.

Screenshot of the false post taken May 8, 2025

The claim also surfaced on X, and was mentioned in a report from Pakistani broadcaster ARY News after gunmen killed 26 people in a tourist hotspot in the Indian-administered side of disputed Kashmir.

New Delhi blames Islamabad for backing the assault, a charge Pakistan denies.

Despite calls from the international community to step back from the brink of war, the arch-rivals escalated their standoff by exchanging heavy artillery along their contested frontier in the worst violence in two decades (archived link).

At least 43 deaths were reported, with Islamabad saying 31 civilians were killed by the Indian strikes and firing along the border, and New Delhi adding at least 12 dead from Pakistani shelling.

India's Press Information Bureau, however, earlier refuted claims that Kumar was facing a probe or had been sacked.

In a statement posted on X on April 30, 2025, it blamed Pakistan's Intelligence Inter-Services Intelligence for spreading the rumour. Kumar "has superannuated on 30 Apr 2025," the agency said (archived link).

Keyword searches on Google found multiple news reports and social media posts that Kumar had announced his retirement and would be replaced by Pratik Sharma before the Kashmir attack (archived here, here, here and here).

"Lieutenant General MV Suchindra Kumar after completing an illustrious career of four decades in the Indian Army, today relinquished the Command of Indian Army's Northern Command," reads a post shared April 30 on an X account of the army's public information office (archived link).

"He was given a befitting farewell by the brave men and women of the Command," it goes on to say, sharing a post that includes images of the retirement ceremony.

AFP has debunked other false claims stemming from the attack in Kashmir here, here and here.

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