Fake FB post at centre of Salai Taret flag row
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 26 2025: A recent controversy over the hoisting of the Salai Taret flag by members of Arambai Tenggol Unit 58 during the Shirui Lily Festival atop Shirui Hill in Ukhrul district has drawn attention to a social media post which many labelled as communally provocative and misleading.

The provocative post, originally shared by a Facebook page named "Manipur Stylish" apparently intended to create controversy, has sparked tensions between Meetei and Naga communities, with calls for accountability and clarity.

The post in question read: "We, ARAMBAI UNIT 58 (COBRA TEAM), proudly hoisted the SALAI TARET flags atop Shirui Hills during the ongoing Shirui Lily Festival 2025 .

We, the Arambai Tenggol, raised the SALAI TARET flags as a bold declaration that Arambai Tenggol stands strong across every corner of our land.

This is our sacred soil - no other community has the right to stake any claim over the land of Manipur" .

This statement drew sharp criticism from the Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS), which denounced the content as communal and demanded an explanation.

The Wung-Tangkhul Region of the GPRN also condemned the post and demanded an "unqualified apology", while even calling the said Arambai Tenggol member as "treasonous scumbag" .

In response, Arambai Tenggol Unit 58 issued a clarification, expressing regret that TKS had been misled by "inaccurate and misleading information" circulated by the Facebook page handler operating under the name "Manipur Stylish" .

The unit stated, "In sensitive matters of this nature, verifying the authenticity of sources was crucial before arriving at conclusions.

Misinterpretation of such events only fuels division, and it is evident that certain elements are working with the intent to disrupt peaceful coexistence between the Meetei and Naga communities" .

Meanwhile, social media users and watchdog accounts have begun to scrutinise the origin and intent behind the "Manipur Stylish" page.

Users, including platforms like Manipur FACT Check and Senapati Today, claimed that the page is not operated by members of the Meetei community, let alone by Arambai Tenggol.

Many users contended that the page is administered by individuals from the Kuki-Zo community and has a history of posts aimed at vilifying Meeteis.

Manipur FACT Check posted: "Be careful of what is being shared by Manipur Stylish, this page is handled by #KukiZo Admins and since the beginning of Kuki-Meitei conflict May 2023, they had been trying to expose Meitei under the garb of being a Meitei Facebook page.

All the while they were trying to expose #Meitei to the world as a villain.

Today they shared a photo with captions where we can see Arambai tenggol members shouting Slogan.

But the caption is written in such a way that it directly challenged and instigated the #Tangkhul and the #Naga in general.

This is a darker and deeper #propaganda to defame Meitei and make the Naga and Meitei fight" .

Senapati Today also wrote: "As per review of this page, it appears that this page is run by Non Meitei whose intention is to create misunderstanding and animosity between Meitei and Naga..." Another user noted: "Rather than framing the act of hoisting the Salai Taret flag as a transgression, it could have been framed as a moment of cultural pride � even if gently debated or discussed through peaceful channels.

After all, if every group starts labelling others' symbols as offensive in shared spaces, we erode the very foundation of multicultural co-existence" .

Several social media users also shared screenshots to support the claim that the Facebook page is operated by non-Meetei individuals allegedly aligned with the Kuki-Zo community.

These revelations have intensified the demand for careful scrutiny of online content that has the potential to provoke ethnic tensions.

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