A few days ago, a video surfaced online, claiming to depict a Kuki militant firing a Bazooka during the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur. However, an in-depth investigation unravelled a different narrative. The video’s true origin traces back to Myanmar and dates much earlier than the recent Manipur events. Contrary to the portrayal, the video is not a recent incident linked to Manipur’s unrest. The man uses Bazooka in Myanmar, not in Manipur.
The video’s initial circulation can be attributed to Ajay Chauhan (@ajaychauhan41), a known habitual spreader of false information and propaganda. Chauhan’s accompanying caption spun a misleading rumour, falsely suggesting that Kuki children were being brainwashed and trained to target Meitei Hindus, intensifying the ongoing ethnic conflict. This deliberate misrepresentation aimed to sow disharmony and worsen existing tensions.
In fact, when we used some keywords to search the video we found out that the same video was shared on multiple Facebook pages back in 2022. Local Myanmar news sources also confirmed the incident’s location in their country, disconnecting it from the Manipur context entirely. The video was uploaded as a source of entertainment and the actual background of the video seems to be missing.
Unveiling Motives and Implications
Using aged foreign footage to portray it as a recent incident in Manipur shines a light on the dangerous landscape of misinformation. The video, wrongly touted as evidence of a Kuki militant in Manipur, actually hails from Myanmar and has no relevance to the ongoing ethnic turmoil 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. 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: An old video portraying a man using a Bazooka is circulated as a Kuki militant in the Manipur ethnic conflict.
Fact: The video is a dated Myanmar occurrence, unrelated to Manipur’s recent events, and was exploited for propagandist motives to agitate unrest.
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.
