An image showing bodies of deceased soldiers is going viral on X platform (formerly Twitter). Users on X are fiercely sharing this image and alleging that 12 Indian soldiers have been killed by local militia and separatist groups and locals are protesting against Indian army as well as the ruling government.

A Bangladeshi handle on X namely Faryal Sikder has posted this image with the caption: “12 Indian soldiers have been killed by local militias and separatist groups in the Indian state of Manipur. The situation is still tense as locals are protesting against the Modi government and the Indian Army” (Translated from Bengali)

Subsequently, many Pak-based handles like Ironclad, Pakistan Times and other users also shared this Image with similar claims.

Fact-Check

Have 12 Indian Soldiers been killed in Manipur state? This would undoubtedly have made headlines in the mainstream media. No media reports or news articles have come to light in the support of above viral claim .

Furthermore, a reverse-image search of the viral image led us to NDTV‘s report from 2016 carrying the same image. According to this report, an officer & five jawans of 29th Assam Rifles were killed in encounter with militants in the Chandel district of Manipur near Indo-Myanmar border.

Additionally, media outlets such asHindustan Times, Times of Indiaand Livemint also reported this news in 2016. As per reports, a junior commissioned officer (JCO) and five jawans of 29 Assam Rifles were killed in an ambush reportedly by militants at Hangshi, around 15km from its battalion headquarter at Joupi village, in Chandel district of Manipur.

Conclusion

It is evident from DFRAC’s fact-check that the viral image has been misleadingly shared with false news. Originally, the image was from 2016 incident when six security personnel were killed in an encounter with militants in the Chandel district of Manipur.

Analysis: Misleading