An image depicting a group of terrified women on a vehicle has been circulated with the claim that it is related to the Kuki women and portrays a crime against Christians in Manipur. However, D-Intent Data has discovered that the image was old and unrelated to the Kuki people. The image actually depicts Meitei refugees onboard a paramilitary truck at a transit point after being evacuated from the violence that hit Churachandpur, near Imphal in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur on May 9, 2023.
The image is being circulated with the caption “MANIPUR’S BURNING! Kuki Christians face brutal violence, rape & murder by Meitei Hindus. Over 221 killed, 1,108 injured & 60,000 displaced”.
Source: X
Sharing the image on X (Formerly Twitter) propagandist account @RavinderKapur2 wrote. “Why still #Manipur is burning #Christians? Are they not humans? Where is the secular and democratic values now? Over 221 people k! Lled, 1,108 injured & more than 60000 displaced by now & its increasing day by day.”
Several other users, influencers and propagandists have also disseminated the image and made similar claims. Their posts can be seen here, @Defense785, @RasushAnkita, @Iam_amby
The truth about the viral image, Fact Check
As soon as the posts containing the image and claims came to our notice. Subsequently, we conducted research and analysis of the image and found that the image was not related to Kuki Christians but Meitei people.
To verify the claims made by the users. We performed a reverse image search using Google Lens. This led us to stock photography “Getty Images” uploaded in May 2023. According to the information available on the website, the image depicts Meitei refugees waiting onboard a paramilitary truck at a transit point after being evacuated from the violence that hit Churachandpur, near Imphal in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur on May 9, 2023.
According to reports, recently, Kuki militants attacked Meitei people including innocent children and clashed with the CRPF, resulting in the deaths of at least 10 Kuki militants during retaliatory action by the CRPF.
Therefore, it is evident from D-Intent Data’s Fact Check that the viral image was old and unrelated to Kuki Christians.
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— D-Intent Data (@dintentdata) November 16, 2024
ANALYSIS: Misleading
FACT: An image depicting terrified and fearful women on a vehicle has been shared, claiming that it depicts Kuki women and portrays a crime against Christians in Manipur. However, the image is old and unrelated to Kuki people. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/XTy1IVRo2q
Intent
Propagandists are circulating old images of Meitei people with misleading claims to set their narrative over the ongoing ethnic violence in the state.
Conclusion
Claim– The image depicts Kuki Christians and they are facing extreme violence in Manipur.
Fact– The image depicts Meitei refugees on a Paramilitary truck during an evacuation operation in May 2023.
Related Article: Fact Check: Meitei people target Kuki areas with weapons stolen from security personnel? – D-Intent Data
