A few days ago, a video circulated on social media depicted a woman seated beside a man delivering a speech on Narco-Terrorism in Manipur. The video quickly gained traction with claims that the woman was Anusuiya Uikey, the Governor of Manipur. However, Manipur Police promptly refuted these claims, clarifying that the woman in the video was not the Governor. The incident stirred widespread debate and triggered actions against those responsible for the misleading information.
The source of this deceptive campaign was traced back to an account named GeetV (@geetv79), known to align with Congress. Despite projecting an image of opposing bigotry and fascism, this account has consistently indulged in spreading false information to advance political agendas. Similar misleading posts were shared by accounts such as @Polytikles, @asmatasleem13 and several others.
The misinformation gained traction through a tweet that wrongly identified the woman in the video as Manipur’s Governor. The Manipur Police, recognizing the potential harm, promptly intervened. They took to their official Twitter account to dispel the falsehood, clarifying that the lady was not the Governor. In a bid to address the situation effectively, the police initiated a First Information Report (FIR) at the cybercrime police station. Simultaneously, they requested Twitter’s intervention to take down the misleading post.
The office of the Governor of Manipur, Raj Bhavan, also responded to the false claims. Through their official Twitter handle, they vehemently denied the allegations. They stated that the woman seen in the video was not the Governor and debunked the narrative of her participation in the meeting. The Raj Bhavan underscored its commitment to resolving the issue legally, mentioning the applicability of the Information Technology (I.T.) Act and the Indian Penal Code (I.P.C.). In pursuit of justice, a formal complaint was lodged with the Manipur police and the Special Police Cyber Cell in Imphal.
Upon meticulous investigation, our fact-checking team unearthed the real identity of the woman in the video. Her name is Shabnam Jain Kundra, and she was attending a religious event in Manipur. Her connection to the Governor’s office is nonexistent; rather, her background reflects her association with the New Delhi Municipal Council. The post that ignited the misinformation was originally shared by Sohan Giri, who appeared alongside Shabnam Jain Kundra in the viral video.
The intent behind these actions appears to be sowing discord among communities and capitalizing on the sensitive climate in Manipur. By spreading false claims, certain individuals appear to have the intention of sowing disagreement and lack of harmony among various communities. Their main motive seems to be generating turmoil in Violence-hit Manipur. Such propaganda accounts seek to inflame emotions, encouraging disagreement among the general public. This is an effort to manipulate public sentiment and cause disruption. Moreover, the misinformation aimed to portray the state’s government, currently led by the BJP, as incapable of curbing violence and ensuring safety. Following comprehensive analysis and meticulous fact-checking, our team has investigated the claim. You can refer to the findings of this inquiry in the Twitter thread embedded below.
Claim: A video circulated, wrongly identifying a woman as the Manipur Governor.
Fact: The woman was attending a religious event, and the claims were swiftly debunked by Manipur Police and Raj Bhavan.
In our pursuit of accurate and unbiased information, we’ve diligently fact-checked the claims surrounding the incident. Misinformation can sow discord and disrupt communal harmony. Your support matters greatly in our mission to foster an informed and united society. Together, let’s strive to make India and Indians proud, upholding truth and unity. Jai Hind.
