Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
Indian helicopter shot down in Manipur.
Fact
Video from Myanmar shared with fabricated narrative.
Amid a resurgence of ethnic violence in Manipur, a video, spanning over forty-three seconds, purportedly showing a man shooting down an airborne helicopter is being widely shared on social media platforms, with users claiming it to be from the crisis hit state. Newschecker, however, found the video to be from Myanmar, and not Manipur as widely claimed.
Multiple X and Facebook users shared the video allegeling, “The Indian fighter helicopter shot down by freedom fighter in Manipur.” While others claimed, “Manipur freedom fighters belonging to the Seven Sisters shot down an Indian helicopter.”
Such posts can be seen here, here, here and here.
Also Read: Image Of Digitally Translated Hindi Report Criticising Rahul Gandhi Viral With False Claim
Fact Check/Verification
A Google lens search on the keyframes of the viral video led us to a Facebook post by People’s Spring (@LuduNwayOo), a Burmese (Myanmar) language news and media website, dated September 7, 2024. Carrying the same footage, the post stated, “A video recording of the KIA (Kachin Independence Army) shooting down the military council helicopter has emerged (translated from Burmese via Google).” It added that the incident happened in January this year. Notably, Kachin State is in Myanmar.
We then looked up keywords “ KIA” “shooting down,” “military helicopter” and “video” in Burmese on Youtube which yielded a report by Tachileik News Agency, dated September 6, 2024. It featured the same video and stated, “On January 3, 2024, KIA shot down a military helicopter delivering food to a military camp in the Napho region. A KIA military source confirmed to Tachileik News Agency that the video was of a helicopter shot down in Napho. (translated from Burmese via Google)”
Another outlet Myanmar Now News also shared the video on Youtube, and further corroborated, “…a KIA soldier fired at a military council helicopter with a shoulder-mounted anti-aircraft weapon”
The KIA shot down a military helicopter in Myanmar in January, 2024 killing six members of the military council. The video, though surfaced recently, reportedly relates to the same attack.
Further, we did not find any credible news reports stating that any such incident has taken place in Manipur. State police also clarified that the video was in fact from Myanmar.
Government’s PIB Fact Check too corroborated that the footage is from Myanmar and not Manipur as widely claimed.
Also Read: Video From Myanmar Falsely Shared As Drone Attack In Manipur
Conclusion
Hence, a video from Myanmar has been falsely shared to show a helicopter being shot down in Manipur.
Result: False
Sources
Facebook Post By @LuduNwayOo, Dated September 7, 2024
YouTube Video By Tachileik News Agency, Dated September 6, 2024
YouTube Video By Myanmar Now News, Dated September 6, 2024
X Post By @manipur_police, Dated September 9, 2024
X Post By @PIBFactCheck, Dated September 9, 2024
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
