In the wake of Operation Sindoor, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued a nationwide alert to bolster digital surveillance and take stringent action against the spread of anti-national content and fake narratives circulating online.

According to government sources, the MHA has directed all state governments and Union Territories to closely monitor social media and digital platforms for disinformation campaigns, particularly those originating from Pakistan, aimed at distorting the facts around the missile strikes conducted by India across the Line of Control.

“Authorities have been instructed to swiftly identify and block accounts spreading falsehoods or anti-India propaganda,” a senior official revealed, adding that the ministry invoked Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, which empowers the government to restrict access to online content that threatens national security or public order.

This move comes amid a surge of fabricated content following India’s daring air and ground strikes on May 8, which targeted nine terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 personnel.

The Centre said the joint operation by the Indian Army and Air Force neutralized over 90 terrorists, including key operatives from banned outfits Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen.

As Pakistan decried the action as an “act of war,” a barrage of misinformation hit social media, with pro-Pakistan handles falsely claiming Indian aircraft had been shot down and soldiers captured. These claims have since been categorically refuted by Indian officials.

To counter this digital offensive, the MHA also urged enhanced coordination between the armed forces, paramilitary units, and civil authorities, especially in border areas deemed sensitive. States have been asked to maintain seamless communication with central agencies to ensure real-time response to emerging threats.