Fact-check: Old video of Afghan TV panel brawl falsely portrayed as Congress-BJP clash in Manipur
Guwahati: An old video depicting a physical altercation between two participants during an Afghan TV channel debate is circulating with a false narrative claiming it portrays a confrontation between representatives of Congress and BJP in Manipur.
The real situation in Manipur involves clashes between the Meitei community and the Kuki tribe since May 3, 2023, leading to significant displacement and casualties.
The 19-second clip shows two individuals engaged in a heated exchange before resorting to physical violence within a TV studio. Shared on social media platforms with the handle @BackOmyGawd and captioned "Big Fight On Live TV: BJP vs INC #Manipur", it is misleadingly presented as a recent event in Manipur.
Archived links to the posts are available here and here.
An investigation by the fact-checking website BOOM revealed the video originates from a June 2016 incident on 1TV Kabul, an Afghan TV channel, during a debate segment.
By analyzing key frames and conducting a reverse image search, it became evident that the footage is unrelated to the alleged Congress-BJP altercation in Manipur. A longer version of the video, lasting 30 seconds, further confirms its origin and context, including the identification of the channel.
Click here to view, and here for an archive.
1TV Kabul's official YouTube channel holds the original footage, posted on June 10, 2016, under the title "Amaj Amaj - Controversial discussion about Hekmatyar's joining the Afghan government's peace process."
The altercation occurred during a discussion concerning Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, designated as a "global terrorist" by the United States, and his involvement in Afghan government peace negotiations.
This incident underscores the importance of verifying information before sharing it, especially during sensitive times such as elections in Manipur. Misrepresentation of old footage can exacerbate tensions and hinder efforts to address real issues facing communities.
This story is republished from BOOM as part of the Shakti Collective. Read the original story here.