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
A Kuki woman brutally assaulted and killed in Manipur amid the ongoing violence.
Fact
Old video from Myanmar falsely linked to the Kuki- Meitei conflict in Manipur.
A disturbing video of a group of men, few of whom can be seen with arms, brutally assaulting a woman in the middle of the road, and filming the incident is being circulated on social media platforms, with users linking it to the ongoing violence in Manipur. Those sharing the footage alleged that armed citizens tortured and eventually shot dead a “Kuki Christian woman.”
The full text of the claim states, “Manipur has gone out of control of Modi and Shah. Videos have emerged of armed civilians torturing a Kukhi Christian young girl and eventually shooting her to death. Manipur is burning and Modi is silent. (translated from Hindi by Google)”
Such posts can be seen here, here, here and here.
Also Read: Manipur Violence- Video Falsely Claims Kukis Looted Cloth Shop Owned By Meiteis
Fact Check/Verification
A Yandex reverse image search on the keyframes of the viral footage led us to a post on the website Reeleak, dated December 9, 2022. It carried a longer version of the video with the caption, “Cruel Punishment In Myanmar”
We also found a report by Myanmar Now, dated December 6, 2022, featuring a screengrab from the viral video. It stated, “Myanmar’s publicly mandated National Unity Government (NUG) has been carrying out a probe into the execution of a civilian by members of a resistance force under its command near Sagaing Region’s border with India. A video emerged on social media over the weekend in which around a dozen armed men and women are seen beating a woman before shooting her dead in the middle of a road.”
Also Read: 2020 Video Uploaded By Gamer Falsely Linked To Manipur Violence
Adding, “Naing Htoo Aung, secretary of the NUG’s defence ministry, told Myanmar Now..that the incident happened in the town of Tamu in June and that at least some of the alleged perpetrators belonged to the 4th Battalion of the Tamu District chapter of the anti-junta People’s Defence Force (PDF).” The report identified the victim as Aye Mar Tun.
Detailing the incident and its aftermath, a report by DVB, dated December 8, 2022, added, “On Dec 4, a protest took place in Tamu town to condemn the murder of Aye Mar Tun. Protesters chanted slogans to denounce the PDF, NUG, and the Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH).”
Also Read: Karnataka CM Mistreated State Football Team? Here’s The Truth Behind Viral Video
Conclusion
Hence, we could conclude that an old video from Myanmar has been falsely shared to show the brutal thrashing and killing of a Kuki woman in Manipur amid the ongoing violence.
Result: False
Sources
Reeleak Post, Dated December 9, 2022
Report By Myanmar Now, Dated December 6, 2022
Report By DVB, Dated December 8, 2022
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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.
