Security forces accuse local media in Manipur | Latest India News

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Security forces in Manipur have complained to the Editors Guild of India that local media are stoking tension by spreading biased or false accounts of incidents that could hamper a return to normalcy in the plague-stricken border state. ethnic violence.

Incidents of violence have not ceased more than two months after ethnic clashes first erupted between the Meitei and Kuki communities on May 3 (PTI) {{^userSubscribe}} {{/userSubscribe}} {{ ^userSubscribe}} {{/userSubscribe }}

In their July 13 letter, the forces cited 4 to 5 different instances in which local media published incorrect versions of the incidents, adding to tension between the communities, officials said, declining to be named.

Incidents of violence have not ceased more than two months after ethnic clashes first erupted between the Meitei and Kuki communities on May 3. On Saturday, a 55-year-old woman was murdered and her face disfigured in Imphal East district by at least nine people, including five women. On Sunday, a 34-year-old man from Kangpokpi district was killed by more than two dozen gunmen after reports of gunfire between two groups in a village.

There are two issues here. One is the false narrative that is set up after every violent incident. For example, last week, an attempt to loot weapons from the headquarters of an Indian reserve battalion in Thoubal (one person was killed by police fire). The local media report said people trying to get inside the armory were looking for protection, which is a complete lie. These false accounts stoke tension, an official said.

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The other concerns allegations of bias. There were fake stories about the Assam Rifles that did not address a particular incident because the force had tribal or non-tribal personnel, the official added. This is carefully done by people with special interests. These fake articles do not help bring back normality and instead stir up feelings, which can be avoidable.

The official cited another report from a local news channel about a woman who on Sunday said she was assaulted by Assam Rifles staff during a protest sit-in. The woman’s interview, which was widely broadcast in the state, said security personnel fired tear gas shells at her and other protesters in the Checkon area.

After the woman’s viral interview, there were protests demanding the withdrawal of the Assam Rifles. The interview was bogus as no members of the Assam Rifles were deployed in the area at the time, the official said. Additionally, Assam Rifles personnel were not equipped with tear gas shells.

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On July 14, the Editors Guild issued a statement on Twitter about the coverage of the Manipur violence by sections of the media and regretted that there was noticeable bias in the coverage, contributing to division and to violence. The guild advised all journalists to report the facts and not take sides.

Since May 3, the northeastern border state has been plagued by ethnic clashes between the tribal Kukis, who mainly reside in the hill districts, and the majority Meiteis, the dominant community in the Imphal Valley. The unrest left at least 150 dead and displaced more than 50,000 people.

The clashes first erupted in the town of Churachandpur after groups in Kuki called for protest against a proposed change to the state reservation matrix, granting planned tribe status to the Meitei community. The violence quickly engulfed the state where ethnic fault lines run deep, displacing tens of thousands of people, who fled burning homes and neighborhoods into the jungle, often across state borders.

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Authorities quickly imposed a curfew and suspended the internet, calling in additional security forces to force a pause in the spiraling clashes. Internet is still not back in the state as columns of Indian Army, Assam Rifles and different battalions of paramilitary forces are stationed in the state to bring back normalcy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Prawesh Lama covers crime, policing and security issues in Delhi. Raised in Darjeeling, educated in Mumbai, he also works on special welfare issues in the nation’s capital….view details

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