Authors
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:
2 Indian Army soldiers were beaten to death in Manipur when they tried to molest a group of women who were working in the nearby fields.
Fact:
The claim that two Indian Army personnels were beaten to death by women in Manipur for attempting to molest them is note true. The video shows women of the Meira Paibi opposing the deployment of Indian Army in their locality over constant monitoring and screening.
As the Violence in Manipur between the Kukis and Meiteis spills into the new year, many social media users are posting a 19 second video, claiming to show 2 Indian Army soldiers who were beaten to death in Manipur after they tried to molest a group of women who were working in the nearby fields. The users added that the whole unit was forced to flee by the retaliating women. The video post can be seen here.
Many other X users also shared the same video with the same claim. Some of those can be seen here, here and here.
The video was also shared on Facebook with the same claim. Some of those can be seen here, here and here.
However, our investigation found that the viral video has been shared with false contextual information.
Fact Check/Verification
We began by conducting a Google Keyword search with “Indian Army soldier killed in Manipur,” but found no relevant reports. While some reports related to the search can be read here, they were not linked to the viral video or the claim, raising our doubts.
We then used the InVid Tool to extract key frames of the viral video and conducted a Google reverse image search on a few of them, which took us to several YouTube Channels carrying the same video. One such video, posted by a prominent Manipuri media channel Impact TV, carried a report featuring the same video, on January 2, 2024.
The report can be seen between timestamps 42.13 and 43.14 in the evening bulletin segment.
The report reveals that the Kumaun Regiment, previously stationed at Kumbi Base Camp, has been pushed away by the members of Meira Paibi.
The anchor can be heard saying in Manipuri, (Translated into English) “The Kumaun Regiment of the Indian Army, previously stationed at Kumbi Base Camp, has been relocated to Ithai Village in Moirang (Bishnupur), Manipur. However, they have encountered resistance from the Meira Paibi, who oppose the deployment of the army in their area. The Meira Paibi express concerns that the continuous frisking and checking of villagers by the army would disrupt their daily lives significantly, prompting their opposition to the military presence in the region.”
This proves that the viral video does not show Manipuri women attacking Indian Army officials over alleged molestation attempts.
We also found several videos posted on YouTube, with the description indicating that the video in fact showed Meitei Meira Paibi KASUBI fighting with Assam Rifles. Some of those can be seen here, here and here.
Who Are The Meira Paibis?
Meira Paibis are groups of Meitei women spread across the state who, in the seventies, organised themselves to carry out non-violent protests against illicit-liquor, use of drugs and Armed Forces (Special Powers). But since the beginning of the conflict in Manipur, the Meira Paibi, have been steadily pushing back against the central forces who have been deployed in the state to reign in on the conflict. The role of Meira Paibi in the conflict has come under scanner and has been called out by the security forces for aiding the rioters. The Army has previously accused the women of helping rioters flee, interfering in operations, preventing the movement of men and material, and digging up the entry to the Assam Rifles camp to cause delays.
The Meira Paibi on the other hand accuse the Assam Rifles of being biased towards the Kukis.
‘No Such Incident In Manipur’
We reached out to Kalyan Deb, Chief Reporter at EastMojo, who denied the claim made in the viral social media post and stated that no such incident happened in Manipur with Indian Army soldiers.
We further reached out to leaders from the Meira Paibi, and will update the report with their statement.
From the above findings, we find that the claim made with the viral video is not true and that the video in fact shows a pushback of the central forces by the Meira Paibi.
Conclusion
Thus, the viral claim asserting that the Indian Army tortured women in Manipur and that two soldiers were killed by women is false.
Result: False
Our Sources:
1. Video report published by Impact TV, dated January 2, 2024
2. Telephonic conversation with Kalyan Deb, Chief Reporter, EastMojo
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Authors
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.
