2023 Nagaland clip and unrelated footage falsely shared as Assam Rifles soldiers “captured alive” in Manipur
2023 Nagaland clip and unrelated footage falsely shared as Assam Rifles soldiers “captured alive” in Manipur
Executive Summaryसारांश
Baba Thoka and Clash Fire claim armed groups in Manipur have captured Assam Rifles soldiers alive for “targeting innocent Christians”. Fact-checkers have labelled the posts propaganda. The key clip is from January 2023 in Nagaland’s Jaluki area, not Manipur, and there are no credible reports of any such capture now.Baba Thoka and Clash Fire claim armed groups in Manipur have captured Assam Rifles soldiers alive for “targeting innocent Christians”. Fact-checkers have labelled the posts propaganda. The key clip is from January 2023 in Nagaland’s Jaluki area, not Manipur, and there are no credible reports of any such capture now.
Full Reportपूरी रिपोर्ट
On October 22, 2026, the X handles “Baba Thoka” (@ThokaReturns) and “Clash Fire” (@Clashfire_) posted near-identical claims that Indian Army and Assam Rifles soldiers had been “captured alive” in Manipur, with Clash Fire attributing the capture to a “Manipur Army”. The posts alleged the soldiers had been attacking Christian civilians, used the term “Indian-occupied Manipur”, and mocked PM Modi and the Indian media. They used a collage of three clips, including one of a soldier in a forest gesturing as he speaks. Fact-checkers have labelled the posts propaganda. That central clip comes from January 27, 2023, when, according to sources cited by India Today NE, 31 personnel of 25 Assam Rifles were reportedly held by the NSCN (IM)’s armed wing in Jaluki, Nagaland, and were later released. That incident was in Nagaland, more than three years ago, and had nothing to do with attacks on Christians. There are no credible reports of Assam Rifles personnel being captured in Manipur now. Both handles have a record of spreading fabricated content against the Indian armed forces, and adding a religious angle in a sensitive region like Manipur is meant to inflame tensions. Such posts should be reported, not shared.
On October 22, 2026, the X handles “Baba Thoka” (@ThokaReturns) and “Clash Fire” (@Clashfire_) posted near-identical claims that Indian Army and Assam Rifles soldiers had been “captured alive” in Manipur, with Clash Fire attributing the capture to a “Manipur Army”. The posts alleged the soldiers had been attacking Christian civilians, used the term “Indian-occupied Manipur”, and mocked PM Modi and the Indian media. They used a collage of three clips, including one of a soldier in a forest gesturing as he speaks. Fact-checkers have labelled the posts propaganda. That central clip comes from January 27, 2023, when, according to sources cited by India Today NE, 31 personnel of 25 Assam Rifles were reportedly held by the NSCN (IM)’s armed wing in Jaluki, Nagaland, and were later released. That incident was in Nagaland, more than three years ago, and had nothing to do with attacks on Christians. There are no credible reports of Assam Rifles personnel being captured in Manipur now. Both handles have a record of spreading fabricated content against the Indian armed forces, and adding a religious angle in a sensitive region like Manipur is meant to inflame tensions. Such posts should be reported, not shared.