New Delhi: In an official response to TheWireDespite detailed reporting on the Manipur Tapes – audio recordings submitted to Justice Lamba’s Commission of Inquiry as evidence of Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s alleged complicity in ethnic violence in the state – the Manipur government has described the recordings as “manipulated”.
Advertising
>
In a press release on August 19, several hours after The Wire published its three-part article, the Manipur government warned: “Anyone involved in spreading such baseless and baseless content through any media or publishing and sharing such content without exception will be prosecuted under relevant laws of the country. This will aggravate the public order situation in the state and will nullify the efforts made so far to bring normalcy and peace to the state.”
Before the publication of the stories on the Manipur Tapes, TheWire had sought a response from the Chief Minister to a set of detailed questions relating to statements he allegedly made during a meeting at his official residence late last year. Although some snippets of a recording purportedly made by Biren Singh surfaced on social media last week, prompting a strong denial from the state government, a 48-minute recording of that meeting dating back to 2023 was recently handed over to the Commission, with the person(s) claiming on oath to have made it and testifying to its authenticity.
Advertising
>
Since these questions are not answered, TheWire publishes the full press release from the State Government. Attached are the questions sent to the Chief Minister’s Office.>
§
Advertising
>
Imphal, the 19th centuryth August, 2024>
1. The public should be informed that, barring some sporadic incidents of very minor magnitude, law and order in the State has improved during the last 3-4 months thanks to the untiring efforts of the State Government and the Central Government and no major confrontation has taken place. In this regard, the State Government appreciates the efforts of the security agencies including the Central and State forces.>
2. Unfortunately, the State Government had to issue a press release dated 07.08.2024 regarding the viral manipulated audio clips aimed at inciting communal violence and hampering various peace initiatives launched by both the State Government and the Central Government at multiple levels, claiming that the manipulated clips were of the Hon’ble Chief Minister. Accordingly, an FIR No. 34(8) 2024 CCPS dated 07.08.2024 has been registered with Cyber Crime PS in this regard and the investigation is on (copies of the press release and FIR attached).>
3. Similarly, such content was widely circulated on social media and in news reports from certain news agencies, in particular “The WIRE”, video URL:
Advertising
>
(I)https://thewire.in/Government/manipur-tapes-biren-singh-bombs-amit-shah-commission>
(iii)https://thewire.in/Government/manipur-tapes-biren-singh-bombs-amit-shah-commission>
(iii)https://thewire.in/Government/manipur-tapes-biren-singh-kuki-posts-conflict-credit>
4. In this connection, it is clarified that incidents of rocket and bomb firing at criminals in peripheral areas like Kangvai and areas bordering Bishnupur, Imphal East, Moreh, Jiribam, etc. have been reported from time to time and from different States.
Advertising
>
Police and other security agencies have taken steps to nab and deter the perpetrators. Many FIRs have been registered in this regard and investigations are underway by agencies like NIA etc. So far, the security agencies have been able to control such incidents to a large extent.5. The State Government considers such acts of spreading misinformation/disinformation through such doctored clips as anti-national activities as they are likely to incite hatred and distrust among the communities and thereby intentionally attempt to disrupt the peaceful coexistence of the communities to escalate the current law and order problems in the State and particularly to thwart the peace initiatives of the State Government and the Central Government.>
6. Therefore, the public is hereby informed and requested not to rely on such baseless content circulating on social media and news reports and also not to participate in spreading such false and fabricated information through any media.>
7. Furthermore, anyone without exception shall be prosecuted under relevant provisions of the laws of the country if found to be involved in the dissemination of such baseless and baseless contents through media or in the publication and dissemination of such contents, thereby escalating the public order problems in the State and nullifying the efforts made so far to bring normalcy and peace in the State.
Advertising
>
Housing:>
GOVERNMENT OF MANIPUR>
DIRECTORATE FOR INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
Advertising
>
PRESS RELEASE>
Distribution of manipulated audio data with the aim of endangering the peace process>
Imphal, August 7, 2024 (DIPR): The Government has come to know that an audio recording falsely claimed as the recording of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Manipur is being circulated on social media platforms. This doctored recording is a malicious attempt by certain quarters to instigate communal violence or to hamper the peace process which has been initiated at various levels.>
Our social media analysis suggests that a coordinated and targeted campaign is underway, with numerous X accounts (formerly Twitter) sharing the audio with similar captions. Attached is a screenshot providing an overview of this orchestrated action.>
The Manipur Police is actively investigating the case and is determined to unravel the origins of this defamatory campaign. Legal action will be taken against all individuals and entities involved in this conspiracy.>
We urge the public to remain vigilant and not to share any unverified information.>
Restoring peace and harmony in our communities is more important than ever at this time. The state government will not tolerate any action that threatens to disrupt the peace process.>
Housing: Screenshot of the coordinated campaign>
RH/PHS/APO(P) No. 08 07-08-2024>
>
§>
The full list of questions asked by TheWire to the CMO, which remained unanswered.>
A) Did you ever say that you would have dropped bombs on Kukis if you had not been Prime Minister?>
B) Did you at any time during the past year instruct State Police commandos to defy Amit Shah’s orders not to use bombs (including 51mm mortar shells) in the Kuki areas and instead use them covertly? >
C) During the last one year, did you start issuing instructions to the commandos immediately after two to three days of ethnic conflict, bypassing the DGP and other senior IPS officers?>
D) Have you ever said in your office during the past year that you have ensured that no one who looted weapons from state police stations was arrested?>
E) Did you ever say that you would ensure the supply of weapons to unauthorized persons through the State Assembly?>
Q) Did you ever say that you would have dropped bombs on Kukis if you were not the Prime Minister?>
G) A) Do you object to the fact that most of the Secretariat officials in Imphal belong to the Kuki community?>
H) Are you against the appointment of some judges in the courts of Manipur from the Kuki community?>
I) Are you against the inclusion of the Kuki community in the list of Scheduled Tribes?>
J) Do you take responsibility for the ethnic violence resulting from your government’s deforestation activities in protected forest areas? >
K) Do you think that the Nagas have no interest in buying land in the valley areas of Manipur because they are fighting for independence from India? >
L) Do you doubt the rape allegations of the two Kuki women who were paraded naked by a mob?>
M) Do you think that exposing a woman naked in public and being groped by a group of men does not amount to rape/gang rape or sexual assault?>
N) Do you think there could be no sexual intent when the mob parades the women naked in public? >
O) Have you asked any Meitei civil society group to tell the National Investigation Agency that those arrested for the crime should be rewarded instead? >
P) Have you asked any Meitei civil society group to say ‘with pride’ that it was the ‘Meitei’ (those who were part of the mob) who rescued, clothed and sent these women home while their uncle and brother were not spared by the same mob? >
Q) Have you asked anyone to publicise in the press the horrific case of the two Meitei children who were allegedly killed by Kuki militants during the ethnic conflict, as a countermeasure to the global shaming of the community due to the video clip of the two Kuki women circulating on the internet?>
