New Delhi, Feb. 18 -- The Press Information Bureau (PIB) on Wednesday dismissed as "fake" a viral social media claim alleging that so-called "Manipur freedom fighters" had captured an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter from an air base in Manipur and that IAF personnel had fled the area out of fear.

The claim, which circulated widely across platforms including X, alleged that an IAF helicopter had been seized from an IAF base in the violence-hit state and that security personnel had abandoned their positions.

The unverified posts attempted to portray a breakdown of security infrastructure and suggested that armed groups had taken control of military assets - a claim that has now been categorically rejected by authorities.

Fact-checking ...