Intense false narrative post-Koutruk attack
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 02 2024: Certain groups and individuals are leaving no stone unturned to disrepute the Meetei community through spread of false information on social media amid escalation of the crisis in the state.

The Kuki organisations, in particular, have been deliberately and tactfully misrepresenting Sunday's incident, wherein Kuki militants used drones to drop bombs and sophisticated weapons in attacking Meetei villagers of Koutruk under Imphal West district, resulting in the death of a woman, and injuring her daughter besides nine others including security personnel and a news reporter, in a misleading way on social media.

According to ground reports of the incident, armed Kuki militants from the side of Bethel village launched attacks on Meetei residents in Koutruk Kadahgband Part 1 and Koutruk Part 2 .

They used sophisticated firearms and drones to bombard the Meetei village, consequently claiming the life of one Ningthoujam Surbala (31) of Phayeng Umang Leikai.

Her young daughter, along with nine others also suffered injuries.

Meanwhile, the state's Home Department and Manipur Police issued separate statements confirming the attack was carried out by suspected Kuki militants using highly sophisticated weapons and drones to bombard the villagers, resulting in the death of one woman and injuries to many others.

In contrast, Kuki Inpi, the apex body of Kukis, issued a statement and posted on India Today NE website, wrongly describing the incident as an ambush on Kuki-Zo civilians along with strongly condemning the same.

Additionally, numerous baseless and malicious allegations about the Sunday's incident have been circulating on social media.

According to some of these false reports, the woman's death and injuries to others injured was attributed to outbreak of an inferno due by short circuit, with one Loris Khongsai posting on 'X' that some houses in Koutruk caught fire due to 'electrical issues' .

Other misleading reports on social media also contended that some Arambai Tenggol volunteers while trying to rescue people from the inferno suffered injuries after an LPG cylinder exploded, and led to the death of the 30-year-old woman.

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