Imphal: The Manipur government issued a stern warning on Monday, stating that anyone responsible for spreading baseless viral audio clips—allegedly doctored and purportedly featuring Chief Minister N Biren Singh—will face prosecution. The government emphasised that such actions aim to derail ongoing efforts to restore peace and normalcy in the state.
This warning came shortly after The Wire, a Delhi-based online news portal, published an article centered on the alleged audio clips. The article suggested the involvement of N Biren Singh in the ethnic violence that has plagued the northeastern state since May 2 last year.
Known for its critical stance toward the establishment and the BJP-led government, The Wire stated, “…While we understand the complete recording and transcript are now part of the records of the Commission, we are withholding some parts of the audio for the moment as they might adversely affect the security of individuals in the state and may further exacerbate tensions in the region.”
In a statement released by the Directorate of Information and Public Relations, the government made it clear: “Anyone found disseminating such unfounded and baseless content via any media platform, potentially inciting law and order issues and undermining efforts toward peace, will be prosecuted under relevant laws.”
The release further labelled the spread of misinformation through these doctored clips as an anti-national activity, warning that it could incite hatred and deepen mistrust between communities. The government also urged the public not to rely on unverified information circulating on social media or in news reports and to avoid sharing false and fabricated content.
