New Delhi: India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a formal clarification on Tuesday, dismissing viral social media reports alleging that Bahrain has captured an Indian spy and initiated mass deportations of Indian nationals.

The controversy erupted following a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) by an account identified as "MENA Unleashed." The posts claimed that Bahraini authorities had apprehended an Indian individual on charges of treason and espionage for Mossad. The account further called for an "immediate ban and deportation of all Indians" from the Gulf region, alleging that Indian citizens had "chosen Israel."

The MEA’s dedicated fact-checking unit, MEA FactCheck, swiftly flagged the screenshots of these posts with a prominent "FAKE" watermark.

"This is Fake News," the ministry stated in a brief but direct advisory. "Please stay alert against such false and baseless claims on social media!"

Diplomatic sources indicate that there has been no official communication from the Bahraini government regarding the arrest of an Indian national for espionage, nor are there any policy changes regarding the residency status of the Indian diaspora in the Kingdom.

Experts note that such misinformation often surfaces during periods of heightened regional tension to sow diplomatic discord. India and Bahrain maintain a strong bilateral relationship, with over 300,000 Indian nationals currently living and working in the country, forming the largest expatriate community in the archipelago.

Authorities are urging the public to verify information through official government channels before sharing content that could incite communal or diplomatic friction.