Unconfirmed Reports and Speculations
This week started with the major news development, referring to a rumor that the underworld Dawood, allegedly residing in Karachi, has been poisoned by an “unknown man” and was shifted to a hospital in critical condition.
The news, banked on a rumor and unknown source, further claims that the 67-year-old has been living in Karachi with his second wife along with his three daughters and a son under tight security and away from the public glare.
It also claimed that the hospital where Dawood has been taken is also put under tight security.
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Doubts and Contradictions
While all the rumored claims are yet to be confirmed by a reliable source in Pakistan, the news itself does not seem to have been thoughtfully drafted.
Firstly, Pakistan has officially denied Indian claims that Dawood resides in Karachi or any other part of the country and therefore, would not confirm the rumor if it may be considered to be true.
And even if the rumor is to be seen on its face value, the claim that Dawood has been poisoned by an unknown man seems to be far from the actual position on the ground, especially in reference to the fact that he is an underworld don and India’s most wanted man.
Challenges to the Poisoning Claim : Dawood Ibrahim dead
Reliable sources have said that it is almost impossible for any unknown person to have access to Dawood as he is surrounded by his most trusted people, family members, close aids, and security, who ensure that he is kept safe.
“It is almost impossible for any person to have such kind of access to Dawood Ibrahim. As I understand, he would be surrounded by his trusted security and aids. And even if he may be in Karachi or anywhere else, keeping him safe would remain as the topmost priority of his people. So reports about him being poisoned by an unknown man do not fit at all,” said one of the sources.
Dawood’s Presence in Karachi
Dawood Ibrahim is an elderly man now. At the age of 67, it has been reported that he has medical issues and maintains his health through various medications. It is highly likely that he may have gotten sick due to some medical issues, if only any part of the rumor is to be believed to be true.
The claim about the presence of Dawood in Karachi is what India claims, referring to confirmations by his family members and their statements to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
India’s Pursuit of Dawood Ibrahim
India claims that Dawood has been living in Pakistan for decades now, adding that Pakistani authorities have provided proper protection and hidden shelter to Dawood, while officially denying his presence in the country.
Considered the most wanted terrorist here, India wants to lay its hands on Kaskar for involvement in multiple crimes, terror acts, narcotics, etc., in Mumbai and elsewhere, plus, also as ‘a political trophy’.
The prime cases for which India wants him include the March 12, 1993 Mumbai serial blasts — ranked the worst-ever terror strike in India — which claimed 267 people, much higher than the 166 who were killed in the terror attacks of November 26, 2008, that hit the country’s commercial capital.
Social Media Buzz and Internet Shutdown in Pakistan
Posts claiming underworld don Dawood Ibrahim being poisoned and admitted to a hospital in Pakistan’s Karachi in a ‘critical condition’ have been making rounds across social media on Monday.
Such posts, some even claiming that he’s dead, have sparked worries and a rush of internet debates among netizens in Indian, Pakistan, and other countries.
Besides, a nationwide internet shutdown in Pakistan has intensified the debates on the issue.
Unverified Claims and False Information
None of the claims have been verified as of yet. But some of the posts containing such rumors have been found to be false.
For instance, NDTV reports that some users posted screenshots of what appeared to be the account of Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar, which mentioned that Dawood had died. But the message turned out to be fake, with several fact-checkers clarifying that it was not the account of Mr. Kakar and there is no confirmation about Dawood.
According to India Today, this isn’t the first instance of unconfirmed news circulating about Dawood Ibrahim being critical or dead. If one considers such reports, India’s most-wanted criminal must have died multiple times.
History of Unfounded Rumors
The recurring cycle of rumors regarding his death on social media has consistently proven to be unfounded.
In 2020, media reports emerged stating that Dawood Ibrahim and his wife contracted Covid-19, with some even claiming he had succumbed to the virus. However, these proved to be false. Yet, the infection did claim the life of Dawood Ibrahim’s nephew Siraj Kaskar in Karachi.
In 2017, reports circulated that Dawood Ibrahim died of a heart attack, with some suggesting he had a brain tumor affecting his health. However, these reports later proved false, and his right-hand man, Chota Shakeel, stated that the underworld don was in good health.
Another rumor surfaced on social media in 2016, suggesting that Dawood Ibrahim had gangrene on his legs, and doctors might have had to amputate them. Yet, these reports also turned out to be false.
The Elusive Fugitive
India Today reports that Dawood Ibrahim runs an organized crime syndicate — informally called D-Company — which he established in Mumbai in the 1970s. His criminal activities include murder, extortion, targeted killing, drug trafficking, and terrorism.
India and the US have labeled Dawood Ibrahim a global terrorist since 2003. A reward of $25 million has been announced by the US for information leading to his capture due to his suspected involvement in the 1993 Mumbai attacks.
In 2011, he was listed as number three on the FBI’s “The World’s 10 Most Wanted Fugitives” list. Despite being one of the most wanted men in the world, Dawood Ibrahim has managed to evade capture for decades.
His influence extends beyond criminal activities, and he has been linked to financing Bollywood films. He is also believed to have associations with various celebrities. He remains a fugitive with his whereabouts a subject of intense speculation.
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