The Uttar Pradesh Police have dismissed media reports claiming that a woman from Jammu and Kashmir allegedly eloped with a man from Uttar Pradesh after leaving her first husband.
A senior officer from Kotwali Rae Bareli refuted the claims, stating that no formal complaint or related information has been received regarding the incident.
Speaking to Kashmir News Trust, the officer expressed surprise over the viral news story, stating, “We are unaware of the woman's whereabouts or identity, and we do not know who fabricated this sensationalized story.”
The controversy began when a Delhi-based media outlet reported that a woman from Srinagar had left her first husband to marry a man she met on Facebook from Uttar Pradesh. This report was quickly picked up by various media portals in Kashmir, many of which replicated the story without conducting independent verification.
The officer criticized the lack of journalistic due diligence, noting that none of the reports provided any concrete details, such as the woman's location or identity. “Most outlets simply copied and pasted content from the Delhi-based source without verifying the facts. We, as law enforcement, have no information to substantiate these claims,” the officer added.
Furthermore, the officer highlighted that even if such an incident had occurred, both individuals are adults capable of making their own marital decisions. “Unless a formal complaint or legal issue arises, it does not require police intervention,” he said.
The controversy has raised concerns about journalistic ethics, with critics pointing to the risks of spreading unverified information, especially on sensitive personal matters. [KNT]
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