40 CRPF jawans lost their lives in suicide attack in Pulwama on Thursday.
The nation went in a shock after the attack on security personnel in Pulwama which left 40 CRPF jawans dead. While mourning citizens are demanding action against Jaish-e-Mohammad and Pakistan, they are also seeking ways to help the families of martyred jawans.
Amid this, there are WhatsApp messages doing the round, asking for donations in the name of CRPF jawans.
The WhatsApp forwards are using Akshay Kumar's name to solicit citizens in the name of donation for Pulwama martyrs.
1. Claim: Modi government has started a new scheme
Misleading WhatsApp forwards claimed that Narendra Modi government has now launched a new scheme "exclusively" for battle casualties and weapon purchase. They also claim that the fund was launched Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar's initiative.
Dear @PMOIndia , such messages with account number for donation are viral on #WhatsApp. I don't know whether these are real accounts or Fake Loot Accounts. Please check it's credibility, & if It is false account please take necessary action.#StandWithForces#IndiaWantsRevenge pic.twitter.com/gRVEYqf2O4
— (@shaileshkasat) February 16, 2019
2. Factcheck: Partly true
The claim made in the message is partially true. A fund by the name of Army Battle Casualties Welfare Fund actually exists but it has not been set up after the Pulwama attack to help CRPF jawans' families.
While the bank account details and the account name are correct, it has not been set up to buy weapons as claimed by the message and neither Akshay Kumar has anything to do with it.
Following the Siachen avalanche disaster, the public had expressed interest in helping the kin of the soldiers. After this, the Defence Ministry had set up the fund by the name 'Army Welfare Fund Battle Casualties' with a bank account in the Syndicate Bank.
3. Where you can donate
The CRPF Wives Association has collaborated with the Paytm for donations to martyr families. Paytm has created a separate payment gateway for quick payments. Besides
You can also donate on Bharat Ke Veer, the portal set up by the Ministry of Home Affairs on an initiative by Akshay Kumar.