#FactCheck: Viral Video Showing Pakistan Shot Down Indian Air Force' MiG-29 Fighter Jet
Executive Summary
Recent claims circulating on social media allege that an Indian Air Force MiG-29 fighter jet was shot down by Pakistani forces during "Operation Sindoor." These reports suggest the incident involved a jet crash attributed to hostile action. However, these assertions have been officially refuted. No credible evidence supports the existence of such an operation or the downing of an Indian aircraft as described. The Indian Air Force has not confirmed any such event, and the claim appears to be misinformation.
Claim
A social media rumor has been circulating, suggesting that an Indian Air Force MiG-29 fighter jet was shot down by Pakistani Air forces during "Operation Sindoor." The claim is accompanied by images purported to show the wreckage of the aircraft.
Fact Check
The social media posts have falsely claimed that a Pakistani Air Force shot down an Indian Air Force MiG-29 during "Operation Sindoor." This claim has been confirmed to be untrue. The image being circulated is not related to any recent IAF operations and has been previously used in unrelated contexts. The content being shared is misleading and does not reflect any verified incident involving the Indian Air Force.
After conducting research by extracting key frames from the video and performing reverse image searches, we successfully traced the original post, which was first published in 2024, and can be seen in a news article from The Hindu and Times of India.
A MiG-29 fighter jet of the Indian Air Force (IAF), engaged in a routine training mission, crashed near Barmer, Rajasthan, on Monday evening (September 2, 2024). Fortunately, the pilot safely ejected and escaped unscathed, hence the claim is false and an act to spread misinformation.
Conclusion
The claims regarding the downing of an Indian Air Force MiG-29 during "Operation Sindoor" are unfounded and lack any credible verification. The image being circulated is outdated and unrelated to current IAF operations. There has been no official confirmation of such an incident, and the narrative appears to be misleading. Peoples are advised to rely on verified sources for accurate information regarding defence matters.
- Claim: Pakistan Shot down an Indian Fighter Jet, MIG-29
- Claimed On: Social Media
- Fact Check: False and Misleading
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Introduction
According to the Finance Ministry's data, the incidence of domestic Unified Payment Interface (UPI) fraud rose by 85% in FY 2023-24 compared to FY 2022-23. Further, as of September of FY 2024-25, 6.32 lakh fraud cases had been already reported, amounting to Rs 485 crore. The data was shared on 25th November 2024, by the Finance Ministry in response to a question in Lok Sabha’s winter session about the fraud in UPI transactions during the past three fiscal years.
Statistics
UPI Frauds and Government's Countermeasures
On the query as to measures taken by the government for safe and secure UPI transactions and prevention of fraud in the transactions, the ministry has highlighted the measures as follows:
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has launched the Central Payment Fraud Information Registry (CPFIR), a web-based tool for reporting payment-related frauds, operational since March 2020, and it requires requiring all Regulated Entities (RE) to report payment-related frauds to the said CPFIR.
- The Government, RBI, and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) have implemented various measures to prevent payment-related frauds, including UPI transaction frauds. These include device binding, two-factor authentication through PIN, daily transaction limits, and limits on use cases.
- Further, NPCI offers a fraud monitoring solution for banks, enabling them to alert and decline transactions using AI/ML models. RBI and banks are also promoting awareness through SMS, radio, and publicity on 'cyber-crime prevention'.
- The Ministry of Home Affairs has launched a National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) (www.cybercrime.gov.in) and a National Cybercrime Helpline Number 1930 to help citizens report cyber incidents, including financial fraud. Customers can also report fraud on the official websites of their bank or bank branches.
- The Department of Telecommunications has introduced the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) and 'Chakshu' facility on the Sanchar Saathi portal, enabling citizens to report suspected fraud messages via call, SMS, or WhatsApp.
Conclusion
UPI is India's most popular digital payment method. As of June 2024, there are around 350 million active users of the UPI in India. The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) report indicates that ‘Online Financial Fraud’, a cyber crime category under NCRP, is the most prevalent among others. The rise of financial fraud, particularly UPI fraud is cause for alarm, the scammers use sophisticated strategies to deceive victims. It is high time for netizens to exercise caution and care with their personal and financial information, stay aware of common tactics used by fraudsters, and adhere to best security practices for secure transactions and the safe use of UPI services.
References
Executive Summary
A video is being widely shared on social media with the claim that Baloch people celebrated by dancing after Pakistan’s crushing defeat to India in the T20 World Cup. However, research by the CyberPeace found the claim to be misleading. The video is actually from a Lohri celebration held on January 23 at Government College University in Lahore, and is unrelated to any cricket match. India defeated Pakistan by 61 runs in the T20 World Cup 2026 match held in Colombo last Sunday. India scored 175 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs, while Pakistan were bowled out for 114 runs in 18 overs.
Claim
The 30-second video was shared on X with the caption, “Baloch people celebrate India’s victory.” The footage shows a group of men dressed in traditional attire dancing around a fire, while a large crowd gathers around and applauds.
Fact Check
To verify the authenticity of the viral claim, key frames from the video were extracted and subjected to reverse image search. The search led to an Instagram post uploaded on January 26, 2026, by an account associated with Government College University Lahore. The caption described the performance as a Balochistan cultural dance held at the university’s amphitheatre.
Further research also uncovered another video of the same event, recorded from a different angle and uploaded on January 24, 2026, on Instagram. The caption again confirmed that the event took place at Government College University Lahore.
Conclusion
The evidence confirms that the viral video does not show Baloch people celebrating Pakistan’s defeat in the T20 World Cup. Instead, it depicts a cultural dance performance during a Lohri celebration at Government College University Lahore, and has been shared with a misleading claim.
Today, let us talk about one of the key features of our digital lives – security. The safer their online habits are, the safer their data and devices will be. A branded security will make their devices and Internet connections secure, but their carelessness or ignorance can make them targets for cybercrimes. On the other hand, they can themselves unwittingly get involved in dubious activities online. With children being very smart about passwords and browsing history clearing, parents are often left in the dark about their digital lives.
Fret not, parental controls are there at your service. These are digital tools often included with your OS or security software package, which helps you to remotely monitor and control your child’s online activities.
Where Can I find them?
Many devices come with pre-installed PC tools that you have to set up and run. Go to Settings-> Parental controls or Screentime and proceed from there. As I mentioned, they are also offered as a part of your comprehensive security software package.
Why and How to Use Parental Controls
Parental controls help monitor and limit your children's smartphone usage, ensuring they access only age-appropriate content. If your child is a minor, use of this tool is recommended, with the full knowledge of your child/ren. Let them know that just as you supervise them in public places for their safety, and guide them on rights and wrongs, you will use the tool to monitor and mentor them online, for their safety. Emphasize that you love them and trust them but are concerned about the various dubious and fake characters online as well as unsafe websites and only intend to supervise them. As they grow older and display greater responsibility and maturity levels, you may slowly reduce the levels of monitoring. This will help build a relationship of mutual trust and respect.
Step 1: Enable Parental Controls
- iOS: If your child has an iPhone, to set up the controls, go to Settings, select Screen Time, then select Content & Privacy Restrictions.
- Android: If the child has an Android phone, you can use the Google Family Link to manage apps, set screen time limits, and track device usage.
- Third-party apps: Consider security tools like McAfee, Kaspersky, Bark, Qustodio, or Norton Family for advanced features.
Check out what some of the security software apps have on offer:
If you prefer Norton, here are the details:
McAfee Parental Controls suite offers the following features:
McAfee also outlines why Parental Controls matter:
Lastly, let us take a look at what Quick Heal has on offer:
STEP 2: Set up Admin Login
Needless to say, a parent should be the admin login, and it is a wise idea to set up a strong and unique password. You do not want your kids to outsmart you and change their accessibility settings, do you? Remember to create a password you will remember, for children are clever and will soon discover where you have jotted it down.
STEP 3: Create Individual accounts for all users of the device
Let us say two minor kids, a grandparent and you, will be using the device. You will have to create separate accounts for each user. You can allow the children to choose their own passwords, it will give them a sense of privacy. The children or you may (or may not) need to help any Seniors set up their accounts.
Done? Good. Now let us proceed to the next step.
STEP 4: Set up access permissions by age
Let us first get grandparents and other seniors out of the way by giving them full access. when you enter their ages; your device will identify them as adults and guide you accordingly.
Now for each child, follow the instructions to set up filters and blocks. This will again vary with age – more filters for the younger ones, while you can remove controls gradually as they grow older, and hence more mature and responsible. Set up screen Time (daily and weekends), game filtering and playtime, content filtering and blocking by words (e.g. block websites that contain violence/sex/abuse). Ask for activity reports on your device so that you can monitor them remotely This will help you to receive alerts if children connect with strangers or get involved in abusive actions.
Save the data and it has done! Simple, wasn’t it?
Additional Security
For further security, you may want to set up parental controls on the Home Wi-Fi Router, Gaming devices, and online streaming services you subscribe to.
Follow the same steps. Select settings, Admin sign-in, and find out what controls or screen time protection they offer. Choose the ones you wish to activate, especially for the time when adults are not at home.
Conclusion
Congratulations. You have successfully secured your child’s digital space and sanitized it. Discuss unsafe practices as a family, and make any digital rule breaches and irresponsible actions, or concerns, learning points for them. Let their takeaway be that parents will monitor and mentor them, but they too have to take ownership of their actions.
