Despite complete ban on internet...'Hate posts continue to define social media'
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 03 2023: Despite the State-wide internet ban, communally charged unfounded reports and posts that preach hatred for one particular community still dominate social media and other sites, said six student bodies.

While the internet services were banned to curb rumours, false propaganda that could fuel the violence, such unfounded reports and propaganda with a clear intent to promote hate and hostility towards one particular community [Meitei] and gain sympathy for the other [Kuki] still find ways to the internet, they said in a joint statement today.

The six student bodies include Manipuri Students' Federation (MSF), Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), Kangleipak Students' Association (KSA), Students' Union of Kangleipak (SUK) and Apunba Ireipakki Maheiroi Sinpanglup (AIMS) .

It is very unfortunate that the Twitter handle of the Kuki Students' Organisation, @KSO_Imphal, which clearly a part of the Kuki IT Cell running hate and false propaganda on social media, has called for disbanding the Manipur Police for standing up against the aggression of Assam Rifles, the student bodies said.

They said the Twitter handle shared a viral video of the tense standoff between Sugnu Police and 37 Assam Rifles that ensued after AR blocked the gates of Sugnu police station.

This video was also posted by another handle KSO_PUNE (@KsoPune2216) which made a false statement that "Meitei Manipur Police personnel challenging the Assam Rifles Jawan this morning at Sugnu PS, Manipur..." .

However, the video requires clarification to expose the hollowness and falseness of the claim made by the Twitter handle.

The video itself is evidence of how the AR blocked the gates of the Sugnu police station.

It also shows how one of the Casspir vehicles illegally blocked the roadway as well, the student bodies said.

Sugnu, in Kakching district, is facing an onslaught of Kuki militants who have killed many innocent Meitei villagers and torched hundreds of houses.

Since Sugnu and many other peripheral areas of the valley are vulnerable to such attacks by Kuki militants, the police personnel need to stay prepared and ready as they must swiftly act to protect innocent civilians at a moment's notice.

The Manipur Police personnel were right to protest and express their anger towards the AR for blocking the gates, the bodies said questioning the intention of the Assam Rifles.

"What was the ARs' intention behind in carrying out such a reckless act that exhibited complete disregard of the Manipur State Police when the State is in crisis ? The personnel of Sugnu police station have indeed done a commendable act by standing up against the oppressive and aggressive nature of the 37 AR," said the bodies. Bringing another case to the fore, the student bodies continued that the Twitter handle, @KSO_Imphal "falsely" claimed in a post that "Phaileng village in Kangpokpi district attacked by Meitei radicals.

Automatic and mortars reportedly used by the attackers" .

Debunking the claim, the student bodies said that since the beginning of the conflict, the Meitei villagers in the peripheral areas have been facing continuous attacks and onslaught of the Kuki militants who are using sophisticated weapons such as automatic assault rifles and snipers, despite the presence of the Central security forces.

With "no support" from the Indian Army and the Assam Rifles, the helpless Meitei villagers resorted to defending themselves with a few licensed guns, they said.

The student bodies further asserted "The Kuki IT Cell shamelessly stole this true narrative of the real victims and cooked up a fake story, portraying themselves as innocent villagers facing attacks and started spinning a web of lies on social media to play the victim card.

Many media houses have already fallen prey to this cleverly designed toolkit of the Kuki propagandists" .

Meanwhile, a list detailing the names and regiments of 22 Meitei officers with ranks and file have been reportedly leaked on social media, the student bodies said.

"The pertinent question is how was this data leaked when the State is still facing unrest.

Amid the increasing mistrust towards the Central forces, it is apparent that this leak could not have occurred without the help of insiders among the Indian Army and Assam Rifles.

Who are these insiders ? How many Kuki officers are there in the Indian Army and the AR ? However, the fact remains that this incident was a complete failure of the intelligence.

This could be also interpreted as another deliberate ploy to deepen the crisis and further inflame the conflict between the two communities," they added.

While strongly condemning the spread of "false reports", the student bodies demanded the authorities concerned to take strong action against the social media handles and also appealed to the people not to believe in fake reports and actively participate in restoring normalcy and peace.

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