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Fact Check: Kuki Civilians Carrying Rifles For Safety While Playing Football?

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Viral video shows men carrying rifles while playing football match in Manipur.
Men branding rifles in video are KNF-P militants
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A video is going viral on social media showing some men in fluorescent green jerseys playing football on a field. However, the unsettling part of this video is that these players are carrying assault rifles on their shoulders and in their hands. The players can be seen waving their guns in the air and laughing. The video is being shared with the claim that it is from Manipur, where Kuki civilians are carrying rifles for self-protection while playing football.

Sharing the video, Ashok Swain, wrote, “Football match in Manipur with automatic rifles – Modi fails to provide security to Kuki Christians, so they protect themselves!” (Archived link)

Screenshot of Ashok Swain's tweet claiming Kuki civilians are carrying rifles while playing football.
Screengrab of the tweet

The handle Shivam Yadav asserted, “This video is from Manipur, a Kuki tribal is holding an American rifle in his hand, You can guess the situation of Manipur from this video.” (Archived link)

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Fact Check

During our investigation, we analyzed several news reports and found that this video was originally shared on Instagram by the handle @nampi_romep_hansong_kuki with the caption “football match warmup.” However, the video has now been removed from the Instagram page.

Further investigation revealed that the location mentioned in the video is (L) Nohjang Kipgen Memorial Playground, K Gamnomphai. Gamnomphai is a village in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, where locals identify with the Gamnomphai identity.

The video showing men carrying rifles during a football match was taken at an event held at the Nohjang Kipgen Memorial Playground in K Gamnomphai.
Nohjang Kipgen Memorial Playground, K Gamnomphai

Additionally, the event poster in the video displays the words “Kumthah Golnop 2025.” Kumthah Golnop is an event organized by the Kuki community, where “Kumthah” means “year” and “Golnop” means “song.” This event is a cultural gathering of the Kuki community.

Upon closely analyzing the video, we observed that the jerseys worn by the men carrying rifles had “Sanakhang” written on them, along with player names and jersey numbers. In the later part of the video, some individuals appeared dancing and wearing militant uniforms with a red logo on their shoulders and helmets, which is associated with the Manipur-based terror outfit, Kuki National Front-P (KNF-P).

The Kuki National Front (KNF) is a militant organization based in Northeastern India, particularly in Manipur and Nagaland, representing the Kuki community. It was founded in 1987 and later split into two factions in 1994: KNF-MC, led by SK Kipgen and KNF-P (President faction), led by ST Thangboi Kipgen.

KNF-P extensively operates from Churachandpur district and its primary objective is to secure autonomy for the Kuki community and establish a separate state or union territory for them. KNF-P is a highly radical organization and has been involved in multiple violent insurgencies, including armed conflicts with Indian security forces. In light of recent developments in Manipur, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has submitted evidence in form of YouTube video, in which a man—allegedly Kuki militant commander Tiger—claims responsibility for attacking CRPF personnel and setting houses on fire in Manipur on November 11, 2024.

KNF-P’s violent insurgency has become a significant concern in the northeastern part of India because this militant organization continues to pursue its objectives through insurgency.

Furthermore, in the video, we can see an audience consisting of women and children, none of whom are carrying rifles. Only the individuals playing football on the ground are armed. Now, this raises an important question that if carrying rifles was genuinely necessary for safety during the game, wouldn’t the audience also be armed?

Audiences attending the event

Hence, based on ample evidence, it has been determined that the individuals carrying assault rifles on the football ground are not civilians but armed KNF-P militants. The KNF-P has a long history of violence, including gunfights and arson. Referring to them as ordinary civilians is false and misleading. They are, in fact, militants equipped with assault rifles, intending to carry out violent attacks in the state of Manipur.

ClaimKuki civilians are carrying rifles for protection while playing football.
Claimed bySocial media users
Fact CheckThese are not civilians protecting themselves with rifles, but KNF-P militias carrying them for offensive purposes.

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