Nava Thakuria–
Guwahati: A city-based Assamese newspaper was recently trolled in
social media for using a fake news-photograph to narrate the horrible
story of Manipur in its front page of 19 June 2023 issue.
The social media users slammed the acclaimed daily for using the
photograph, lifted from a viral video clipping, with a completely
different news-story.
The origin of the news-based reporting was based on the video, where a
young lady was seen repeatedly tortured on a roadside and finally shot
down by a group of armed youths in camouflage attires. The daily
reported the incident as being taking place in Manipur recently, where
the victim (read a Kuki lady) was targeted by those aggressive youths
(read Meitei armed group members). The unidentified reporter even
compared the violent incident with those of Syria or Lebanon.
Needless to mention that Manipur continues to witness a series of
violent incidents following the growing conflicts between the Meitei
and Kuki ethnic groups. The tiny State remains in a volatile situation
since 3 May last when the first visible incident of violence broke out
at Churachandpur locality. It spread to other parts of Manipur very
quickly and till date many people have lost their precious lives,
properties damaged, and thousand families rendered homeless.
The situation turned tense since a section of Meitei people (mostly
Hindu) started demanding the scheduled tribes (ST) status for them.
Meanwhile, the Manipur High Court on 27 March directed the State
government in Imphal to consider the ST status for Meiteis, who
constitute nearly half of the State population. Mostly confined in
Imphal valley, Meiteis are dominant in all sectors of Manipur like
sports, literature, theatre, cinema, education and media.
The directive was strongly opposed by the Kuki people (mostly
Christian), who apprehended that it would enable the
socio-economically empowered Meiteis to buy land in the surrounding
hilly areas. Otherwise, the Meiteis are not permitted to own land in
hills, whereas the Kuki, Naga and other tribes can buy land in Imphal
valley too. Kuki leaders argued that their people will be marginalised
once the Meiteis enjoy the ST status as they are advanced in many
folds than other ethnic groups.
As the State experienced unprecedented violence for weeks, the central
security forces have been deployed in various sensitive localities.
Appeals have been made to maintain peace and tranquility across
Manipur. Lately, the Rashtreeya Swayamsevak Sangh (ideologue of the
ruling Bharatiya Janata Party) has appealed for peace & harmony among
various communities and also urged the government, police, military,
central agencies to initiate steps for ensuring a seamless supply of
relief materials to the displaced families.
Terming the Manipur situation as worrisome, RSS Sarkaryavah (general
secretary) Dattatreya Hosabale in a media communique commented, “It is
very unfortunate that the spate of unrest & violence that erupted
among those who have been living a peaceful life with mutual harmony
and co-operation for centuries has not stopped.” He added, the Sangh
stands with the displaced persons and other victims of the Manipur
crisis.
“RSS is of the considered opinion that there is no place for violence
and hatred in a democratic setup, and also believes that the solution
of any problem is possible only through mutual dialogue and expression
of brotherhood in a peaceful atmosphere,” said Hosabale adding that it
should be resolved by addressing the sense of insecurity &
helplessness among the Meiteis and genuine concerns of the Kuki
community simultaneously.
Amidst all troubles, the said Assamese daily found a fake news to
seemingly propagate more hatred among the people of Manipur. The
published news has otherwise no relation to Manipur (or India in
general). It originated in Myanmar where a lady (later identified as a
local teacher named Aye Mar Tun, 24) from Tamu locality of Sagaing
region was killed for suspectedly being a secret military informer.
The small video of her assassinaton even included sound bytes in
Burmese language.
Myanmar’s influential media outlet Mizzima used the photograph a few
months back with a news item relating to a statement of National
League for Democracy (led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi) about its
investigation on alleged execution of the military junta informer. The
National Unity Government (of Myanmar) also decided to take strict
action against any member of the people’s defence force (PDF) who were
found guilty of killing the lady in the photograph.
Speaking to this correspondent from Yangon, Mizzima editor Soe Myint
confirmed that the photograph was related to the viral video and it
was published in the 8 December 2022 issue. He affirmed that the lady
was a Burmese (not a Manipuri). The veteran Burmese journalist added
that nobody from Assam media had earlier talked to him about the viral
video, the particular photograph or the inherent content.
Facing the increasing heat, the daily editor admitted that it was
incorrectly used in his daily to depict the Manipur situation and he
apologized for the mistake. But it’s amazing that a Guwahati-based
newspaper has no source (be it the authority or media or common
people) in its neighbouring State capital to authenticate the
information. Had they taken it as granted for the Assamese readers to
believe whatever they report ! Were they also remained indifferent to
any flare-up of the situation because of the fake news !
