Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
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
Video shows Kuki militants using drones to bomb Meitei houses in Manipur.
Fresh Violence In Manipur
Amid renewed violence in Manipur, a total curfew has been announced in Imphal West, Imphal East and Thoubal districts of Manipur from September 10. Manipur has been besieged by ethnic clashes between Meiteis and Kukis since May last year, which have ratcheted up since Sunday with militants turning to newer technologies such as drones and rockets and adding a fresh layer of violence.
Fact
Newschecker ran a reverse image search of keyframes, which led us to a clearer and longer version of the viral video on Youtube, uploaded by Myanmar-based Mandalay Free Press on June 2, 2023. The channel described itself as “free and independent press, specialising in news from the Mandalay and Sagaing regions [both located in Myanmar]”.
“In Sagaing Division’s Erdato township, armed men roamed around the village. Ayadaw Bone Naing – ABN PDF reported that two armed groups were killed when they attacked the burning military group on May (31) when they were entering the village of War Tan …,” read the description of the video, translated from Burmese. The same video was on their Facebook page, too, uploaded on June 2, 2023, with the Burmese post reading, “…Two dogs were killed and many were injured when a drone bombed the dogs arriving at the village of War Tan.”
Taking a cue from this, we looked up Google Maps, where we found that the buildings seen in a frame from the drone footage in the Youtube video (right) match the structures seen in the visuals of War Tan village in Myanmar.
Also Read: Viral Photos Of Deepika Padukone And Ranveer Singh With Their Newborn Are Manipulated
Result: False
Sources
Youtube video, Mandalay Free Press, June 2, 2023
Google Maps
If you would like us to fact-check a claim, give feedback or lodge a complaint, WhatsApp us at 9999499044 or email us at checkthis@newschecker.in. You can also visit the Contact Us page and fill out the form. Follow our WhatsApp channel for more updates.
Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
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.
