IMPHAL: The Manipur government has issued a fresh statement condemning the spread of disinformation through a viral doctored audio clip allegedly featuring Chief Minister N Biren Singh admitting to involvement in the state’s ethnic conflict.
The statement, released late Monday, follows a report by The Wire stating that the clip, alleged to be doctored by the Manipur government, is being submitted as evidence to the Commission of Inquiry established by the Centre to investigate the situation in Manipur.
Earlier, on August 7, the state government had issued a similar statement, declaring that the viral clip, which purportedly featured the voice of CM Biren Singh, was intended to incite communal violence and disrupt peace initiatives led by both the State and Central Governments. The government also confirmed that an FIR has been lodged at the Cyber Crime Police Station, with an investigation underway.
“The state government views the dissemination of misinformation/disinformation through such doctored clips as anti-national activities. These actions are aimed at inciting hatred and mistrust among communities, deliberately disturbing peaceful co-existence and escalating the law and order situation in the state, specifically undermining the peace efforts initiated by both the State and Central Governments,” the statement read.
The government further noted that, aside from a few sporadic incidents, the law and order situation in Manipur has improved significantly over the past three to four months, due to the ongoing efforts of both state and central agencies. The statement emphasized that large-scale confrontations have been largely contained.
The government also acknowledged the contributions of security agencies, including both Central and State forces, in maintaining order.
However, the statement did confirm that incidents involving rocket and bomb shelling in fringe areas like Kangvai, Bishnupur, Imphal East, Moreh, and Jiribam continue to be reported. The State Police and other security agencies are actively working to apprehend the culprits, and numerous FIRs have been registered, with investigations involving agencies such as the NIA underway.
The government urged the public not to trust unfounded social media posts and news reports and to refrain from sharing false and fabricated information. It warned that anyone found engaging in such activities will be prosecuted under relevant laws, as these actions threaten to escalate tensions and derail ongoing efforts to restore peace in the state.
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