Pakistan-based anti-India propaganda accounts are spreading false claims about a powerful explosion in a residential building in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. They falsely alleged that one person was killed, and two others were injured, claiming the deceased was R&AW official Avinash Shukla. However, these claims are entirely baseless. Reports confirm that on March 5, 2025, an explosion occurred at the Legacy Plaza building in Gwalior, critically injuring two individuals. No deaths were reported, and no R&AW official was involved.
Making a post on X (Formerly Twitter), the Pakistan-based propaganda account @PSYWAROPS (2,3) wrote. “A powerful explosion in a residential building in Gwalior left 1 dead and 2 injured, including a woman. According to local authorities, the blast that appeared to be a cylinder explosion resulted in the death of one Avinash Shukla, details about whom were not disclosed by the Police. But sources claim Skukla was a Deputy Director of India’s R&AW. Shukla was reportedly involved in the planning and execution of a 2023 failed assassination attempt against a prominent leader linked to Kashmiri resistance inside Pakistan.
The truth behind the claims about R&AW official in cylinder blast in Gwalior, Fact Check
As soon as the posts containing the visuals and claims came to our notice. Subsequently, we conducted research and analysis regarding the claims. We found that these claims were false and fabricated.
To verify the claims made by propagandists. We performed relevant keyword searches and found multiple reports and the Gwalior Police statement regarding the incident. According to reports (1, 2, 3), on March 5, 2025, an explosion occurred at the Legacy Plaza building in Gwalior, critically injuring two individuals.
Additionally, the incident resulted from an attempt by the victims, identified as Ranjana and Anil Jaat, to create special effects for an Instagram reel by releasing cooking gas into a sealed room. The explosion was triggered when they switched on a halogen lamp, igniting the accumulated gas. No fatalities were reported, and no R&AW officials were involved.
Therefore, it is evident from verified sources that no fatalities were reported, and no R&AW officials were involved in the incident.
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— D-Intent Data (@dintentdata) March 6, 2025
ANALYSIS: Misleading
FACT: Pakistan-based anti-India propaganda accounts are spreading false claims about a powerful explosion in a residential building in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. These claims allege that one person was killed and two others were injured, (1/4) pic.twitter.com/jhpCcJkWdQ
Intent
Propagandists are spreading deceptive narratives about the explosion in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, distorting facts to push their agenda against India.
Conclusion
Claim– Avinash Shukla, the Deputy Director of R&AW, was killed in the recent cylinder blast in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh.
Fact– No fatalities were reported, and no R&AW officials were involved. The incident occurred during preparation for an Instagram reel.
Related Article: Fact Check: Images of a newly engaged couple from Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior surfaced with misleading claims – D-Intent Data
