A Comedian's Wake-Up Call

In a surreal twist, one of Kashmir's beloved comedians, Bashir Kotur, was Saturday declared dead by some social media accounts.

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The news spread quickly, sparking messages of grief and disbelief across the valley.

But Bashir, very much alive though ailing, had to respond himself. In a video posted online, he looked visibly shaken by what passes for news today.

This wasn't a one-off. Social media in Kashmir is now a bustling, unchecked news arena. Individuals with smartphones and mikes roam the streets, breaking "news" without fact-checking or verification.

These self-styled reporters are often the first to post updates: some accurate, many exaggerated, and some entirely false. It's a system with no filters, no training, and no accountability.