Fact Check: Manipur declares freedom from India amid ongoing turmoil? No, here are the facts
A video resembling an announcement of Manipur’s independence from India is viral on social media, claimed as a recent official declaration amid ongoing ethnic tensions.
By - M Ramesh Naik
Claim:The video shows leaders of Manipur officially announcing independence from India, citing widespread violations by the Indian Army.
Fact:False. The video dates to October 2019, when separatist leaders announced a so-called ‘government in exile’ in London. It was not recognised internationally.
Hyderabad: A video clip showing two individuals addressing a press conference and declaring Manipur’s independence from India is circulating widely on social media. The clip features a banner reading ‘Announcement of Declaration of Independence of Manipur from India October London’ along with a speech listing alleged grievances against India.
An X user shared the video with the caption, “Manipur Officially Declares Freedom from Indian Occupation The respected leaders of Manipur have officially announced independence, citing widespread Indian Army violations across all areas. The announcement highlights ongoing clashes between local militants and Indian forces, marking a historic moment for the Manipur freedom movement.” (Archive)
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the claim is false. The viral video is old and unrelated to any recent developments.
No recent credible reports
Keyword searches across news platforms yielded no credible media reports. A review of recent developments from early 2026 shows coverage of ethnic tensions but no declaration of independence. This hinted that the video might be old.
Origin of the viral video
A reverse image search of keyframes led us to a report published on October 30, 2019, by Hindustan Times. The report said two dissident leaders claiming to represent King Leishemba Sanajaoba announced the launch of a ‘government in exile’ during a press conference in London.
At that press conference, Yamben Biren, who described himself as “Chief Minister of Manipur State Council,” and Narengbam Samarjit, claiming to be “Minister of External Affairs and Defence,” said they were speaking on behalf of the Maharaja while launching the council abroad. The announcement had no official or international recognition.
We also found a 2019 report by Scroll stating that authorities froze bank accounts of separatist leaders on allegations of waging war against India, based on information reported by ANI.
Government of Manipur directs that all bank accounts in the name of separatists Yambem Biren and Narengbam Samarjit Singh shall be freezed with immediate effect. The two separatists were reportedly setting up Manipur’s ‘government in exile’ in the United Kingdom.
— ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2019
Visual clues in the video
The banner visible in the viral footage itself mentions “29 October London,” matching the 2019 event’s time and location. This further confirms the clip is old and not linked to any current situation.
The viral video claiming Manipur has officially declared independence from India is outdated and false. It originates from a 2019 separatist press conference in London and does not reflect any recent or official development. Hence, the claim is false.
