Old video of a protest in Manipur goes viral as recent

The viral video dates back to September 2024, when women in Imphal, Manipur, protested the state’s ongoing violence.

The Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha both approved the statutory resolution to confirm the imposition of President’s Rule in Manipur on 4 April 2025, On 13 February, 2025, four days after the resignation of the State’s chief minister, N. Biren Singh, Manipur was placed under President’s Rule.

In this scenario, a video of Manipuri women protesting on the streets with torches in their hands went viral on social media with claim such as “Manipur’s Push for #Independence: While #India dreams of breaking up #Balochistan, it’s falling apart from within. Protests in #Manipur demand independence from Indian rule, exposing the deep cracks in India’s unity. The struggle for freedom is real, and it’s spreading!”

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Fact Check-

We conducted a reverse image search on Google with the keyframes of the viral video to find the original source. As a result, we found the the same video uploaded on Asianet News on 10 September 2024 under the caption, “Torch Rally in Manipur: Meira Paibis March 10 KM Demanding Manipur Conflict Resolution”. 

The description part states, “Watch as demonstrators take to the streets in a powerful torch rally, marching for approximately 10 kilometers to demand a resolution to the ongoing Manipur conflict. Meira Paibis lead this significant protest, urging the government to restore peace and stability in the region”.

According to news reports from the time, Meira Paibis, a Meitei women’s social movement in Manipur, organised a torch rally on 9 September, 2024, in Thangmeiband, Imphal. The report states, “In a powerful display of public frustration over the government’s inaction to resolve the ongoing conflict in Manipur, a torch rally was organized today, September 9 by the Meira Paibis of Thangmeiband and neighbouring areas.” 

As per reports, women in Manipur’s Imphal took out a massive torch rally on 9 September 2024. A large number of women participated in the rally. The protestors were seen holding fire torches and raising slogans demanding action over the continuing violence in the state. Earlier, an attack was carried out by the Kuki militants against Koutruk villagers in which bombs were dropped on civilians and security forces using drones.

All these evidences indicates that the viral video is not recent and not related to the current situation in Manipur.

Conclusion–

Fact Crescendo found the claim made along with the viral video to be Misleading. The viral video dates back to September 2024, when women in Imphal, Manipur, protested the state’s ongoing violence.