Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Churachandpur in Manipur on September 13, protests erupted the next day.
Locals demanded the release of two men arrested for vandalising decorations ahead of the visit. The crowd attempted to storm the police station and clashed with Rapid Action Force personnel, leading to a lathi charge. The two men were granted bail later that day, and tensions eased thereafter.
In the above context, a video is being widely shared on social media with a caption claiming that it shows violence in Manipur’s Churachandpur village.
The video shows people shouting in panic and watching a plume of smoke rising at a distance.
A social media user shared the video with a caption that reads, “Violence erupts in Churachandpur! Churachandpur burning from within or from outside? Reports confirm foreign-backed elements. Kuki are just trying to mimic the Nepali Gen Z playbook to incite violence.”
SouthCheck found that the claim is misleading. The viral video is
On a Google reverse image search, we found that the longer version of the video on YouTube, uploaded on September 1, with a caption suggesting that it shows a violent protest outside a police station after the passage of three controversial land bills by the Manipur Assembly.
The description associated with the video reads, “Violent protest broke out in Manipur after the passage of three controversial land bills by the Manipur Assembly. Manipur. This footage captures irate mobs outside Lamka Police station in Churachandpur after it was found that the police lobbed expired tear gas shells on them.”
At around 16 seconds into the video, we can see the same visuals as in the viral video. We can see a person carrying green and white polybags near a police post. The ad on a police post is also the same as the viral video. A building and street light near it are also present in both videos.
A comparison highlighting the common elements can be seen below.
Using these hints, we searched with relevant keywords and found a report published by The Telegraph on September 5.
According to the report, seven people died in Churachandpur in Manipur during protests against the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015. The bill, which allows non-Manipuris to purchase land, sparked fears among tribal communities about losing their land rights. Protests escalated into violence, leading to curfew imposition and deployment of additional forces.
What were the protests about?
The incident was also reported by The New Indian Express on September 9.
According to the report, in September 2015, a 60-hour bandh was called in Churachandpur district in Manipur by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of tribal organisations. The protest was in response to three bills passed by the Manipur Assembly:
- Protection of Manipur People Bill, 2015
- Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015
- Manipur Shops and Establishments (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015
The JAC demanded the withdrawal of these bills, giving a 10-day ultimatum to the Hill Area Committee of the Manipur Assembly. Failure to comply would result in a public boycott of its members. The bandh began at noon on September 8 and affected normal life in the district.
All educational institutions were closed, and public transportation was halted. The JAC announced that the bodies of nine individuals who died during previous protests would not be claimed by their families until the bills were withdrawn.
Since the protests happened before PM Modi’s visit to Manipur, we conclude that the claim is misleading.
