Meiteis Resort to Creating Fake Newspaper Clips; No One Buys

It’s quite common for videos and photos to go viral on social media. But this time, Meiteis, who are synonymous with disseminating fake news and photos, have found a new way to take potshots at the Kuki community.

Fake news is not new, but the rate at which it can spread is. Many people have a hard time sorting real news from fake news on the internet, causing much confusion.

Recently a fake newspaper clip has been doing the rounds on various social media platforms today with the headline – “Residents of Churachandpur to petition Elon Musk to start boring a tunnel from Churachandpur to Aizawl.” The Newspaper has been dubbed as “New Northeast Express.” The said fake newspaper reports on December 7 reported that the petition also gave a dateline to complete the tunnel, failing which the petition said the people will rise up, revolt against him and will not even hesitate to label him as “Enemy of us, friends of them.” However, the said newspaper is not even in existence. On further investigation, it is found that this is just the handiwork of some Meiteis in their attempt to malign the image of the Kukis or make a mockery of the Kukis.

The said newspaper itself is also fake while the news content itself is also unverified information - pieces written by non-experts, information not found on other sites, information that comes from a fake newspaper not in existence and stories that appeal to emotions instead of stating facts.

Another fake newspaper clipping of the same created with an online newspaper generator tool is circulating false information that  Dr. Seilen Haokip, Spokesperson KNO is set to become a Himalayan Monk. The same newspaper also made a mockery of the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), stating that the National School of Drama or the NSD will be touring Kangpokpi to make a comprehensive study tour.

Any sane mind with a clear thinking will never buy this cheap propaganda of the Meiteis. It is also absurd that the same newspaper, be it fake or real, will not publish related stories with different headlines on the same issue itself.

The newspaper clipping was generated through a newspaper template available on a website. No credible news outlet has reported on such a story in their publication.

This only manifests how low the Meiteis have stooped to defame the Kukis before the world. They might have resorted to various tactics, but in the end no one buys their fake stories as such fake news have been debunked on several occasions. The Meiteis are known for drama, trained from their very young age in their “Shumang Leela” show.