Student bodies censure communally charged posts
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 03 2023: Six student bodies of the state, including Manipuri Students' Federa-tion (MSF), Democratic Students' Alli-ance of Manipur (DESAM), Kangleipak Students' Association (KSA), Students' Union of Kangleipak (SUK), Apunba Ireipalcid Maheiroi Sinpanglup (AIMS), and another, have strongly criticised circulation of communally charged posts on social media regarding the ongoing crisis in Manipur.

In a joint statement, the student organisations highlighted that the state government had suspended in-ternet services in an attempt to curb violence, rumours and false propa-ganda on social media following the communal clash since May 3.The bodies expressed concern over the dissemination of unfounded re-ports and social media posts aimed at inciting hatred and hostility towards a particular community while gar-- nering sympathy for another despite the state-wide internet shutdown.

They particularly pointed out the Twitter accounts of Kuki Students' Organization (@KS0,..1mphal) of in-volvement in spreading hate and false propaganda.

One of these accounts shared a viral video showing tensions between Sugnu Police and 37 Assam Rifles, with the false statement that Meitei Manipur Police personnel were challenging the Assam Rifles.

They clarified that the video itself demonstrated how the Assam Rifles had blocked the main gates of offic-es of Sugnu Police Station and the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), while one of their vehicles obstructed the roadway.

They emphasised that Sugnu and other peripheral areas had recently faced attacks by Kuki mili-tants, resulting in the loss of innocent lives and the destruction of houses belonging to the Meetei community.

Given the vulnerability of these areas, Manipur Police personnel needed to remain prepared to protect civilians promptly.

Therefore, their protest against the Assam Rifles' actions was justified.

The student bodies fur-ther highlighted anoth-er false claim made by @ KSO_Imphal, alleging an attack by Meitei radicals on Phaileng village in Kang-pokpi district, where auto-matic weapons and mortars were reportedly used.

They clarified that it was actually the Meitei villagers, who had been continuously facing attacks from Kuki militants armed with so-phisticated weapons, even after the arrival of Central forces in the state.

The stu-dent bodies condemned the Kuki IT Cell for distorting the truth and portraying themselves as the victims in an attempt to play the victim card.

In their joint statement, the six student organisa-tions strongly condemned the posting of false reports and propaganda on social media platforms and called upon authorities concerned to take robust action against those responsible for cre-ating divisions and hostil-ities among communities through the dissemination of fake news and propa-ganda.

The public were also urged not to believe in such false rumours and reports, but to actively cooperate in restoring peace and normal-cy in the state.

Additionally, it was re-ported that a list contain-ing the names, regiments, ranks, and files of 22 Meetei officers was leaked on social media.

This raised questions about how such sensitive data was leaked amid the unrest situation.

The inci-dent led to growing mistrust towards the Central forces, suggesting possible involve-ment of insiders within the Indian Army and Assam Rifles.

The student bodies raised concerns about the presence of Kuki officers within these forces and in-terpreted the leak as either a failure of intelligence or a deliberate attempt to deep-en the crisis and exacerbate the conflict between the two communities.

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