No, video doesn’t show Assam Rifles' troops fleeing a mob in Manipur

By: Anurag Baruah
October 11 2023

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Screenshots of social media posts claiming to show visuals of Assam Rifles troops fleeing a mob in Manipur. (Source: Screenshots/X/Facebook/Modified by Logically Facts)

The northeastern Indian state of Manipur has been in turmoil for over five months since the ethnic conflict between the Meitei and the Kuki communities broke out in early May. More than 180 people have reportedly been killed in the conflict, and thousands have been forced to leave their homes. As the two communities battle it out on the streets, social media has also become a breeding ground for conflicting narratives, often involving mis/disinformation.   

What is the claim?

A video circulating on social media claims that it shows troops from Assam Rifles, a central paramilitary force, in Manipur's Churachandpur district. The video shows security personnel dressed in riot gear with batons and shields apparently running away from a mob. They hurriedly grab onto a leaving truck while the mob throws what seems to be a teargas shell. 

The video was posted on Facebook as a reel on September 7 with the caption, "AR in ccpur" along with the '# ManipurBurning' hashtag. This Facebook reel has garnered over 13,000 views so far. We also found the same video posted on X (formerly Twitter), claiming to show Meiteis attacking security forces. The X caption said, "The security forces face the heat of Meiteis violence. The Meiteis fired teargas at the security forces as they fled. It's the other way around. Sad sad situation.#GOI #INC #AmitShah". Archived versions can be viewed here and here. The Assam Rifles, the longest-serving paramilitary force in Manipur, has often been accused by the Meiteis of siding with the Kukis amid the ongoing conflict.

Screenshots of social media posts claiming that the viral video is from Manipur. (Source: Scrennshots/X,Facebook/Modified by Logically Facts)

However, the video is not from Manipur.

What is the truth?

A reverse image search on the keyframes of the viral video led us to a few X posts, and the oldest versions of the video we could locate claimed that the viral clip was from Kenya. Koigi Wamwere, a Kenyan politician, had posted the video on July 9 with the caption, "As much as I support picketing, The constitution does provide for this by Raila followers. These are our brother's and sisters who were nearly trampled by the lorry they were to take refuge on.🥺 #Maandamano (sic)."

Cyprian Nyakundi, a Kenyan blogger, had also posted the video on X the same day with the caption: "Never a dull moment in Kenya. Teargas canister returned back to sender."

Taking a cue from this, we analyzed the video closely to locate any signs that would place the incident in Kenya. We found the words 'MWARIO,' 'TIENGO AUTO PAINTS,' and 'IMPORT AGENCIES' written in three different places on the opposite side of the road where the mob and the security forces were. We geolocated the exact place with the above information and identified it on Google Maps as Ring Road, Nairobi, Nairobi County in Kenya. 

The image comparison below shows the same building and the poles in the viral clip and on Google Street View.

Comparison between visuals from the viral clip and Google Street View. (Screenshots/Facebook/Google Maps/Modified by Logically Facts)

We also located the same writings on the wall of the road in the viral clip as well as Google Maps, as demonstrated below.

The same writings can be seen in viral video and on Google Street View. (Screenshots/Facebook/Google Maps/Modified by Logically Facts)

Another comparison between visuals from the viral video and Google Street View. (Screenshots/Facebook/Google Maps/Modified by Logically Facts)

The situation in Kenya

Since January 2023, Kenya has been reeling under waves of anti-government protests organized by the opposition and led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga against high living costs and tax hikes. The Washington Post reported on July 19 that at least 27 people had died in Kenya since protests began one month earlier in connection to 'skyrocketing prices of basic commodities,' ‘tax increases' as Odinga urged Kenyans to take to the streets. The report also mentioned visuals of protestors confronting police in several cities, including the capital Nairobi, surfacing on social media. 

While we could not independently verify whether the viral video shows visuals from these protests held in Nairobi in July 2023, it is quite clear that the video is not from Manipur. 

The verdict

The viral video is neither from Manipur nor shows Assam Rifles troops. Geolocation confirms that the video is from Nairobi, Kenya. Therefore, we mark the claim false.