The Manipur Government
has extended the mobile internet ban in the State to prevent any violence till
November 8.
The official
notification issued by Home Commissioner T Ranjit Singh stated the prohibition was
extended following “apprehensions that anti-social elements might use social
media extensively for transmission of images, hate speeches and hate video
messages inciting the passions of the public which might have serious
repercussions for the law-and-order situation in the State.
On November 1, a
mob attacked a Manipur Rifles camp to loot its armoury, forcing security
personnel to fire many rounds in air.
The notice further
stressed the existence of “elements of imminent danger of loss of life and/or
damage to public-private property… as a result of inflammatory material and
false rumours, which might be transmitted or circulated to the public through
social media… in the context of the recent incidents of violence in some
parts of the State”.
Imphal, the State
capital has been witnessing tensions following an incident that took place on
October 31 where an SDPO was shot dead by tribal militants at Moreh town.
Mobile internet
has remained banned in Manipur since May 3 except for a few days in the month
of September. The internet ban was imposed following ethnic clashes that broke
out in Manipur in May 2023. The government has been extending the prohibition
of mobile internet periodically.
Ten districts in
the Northeastern State have been impacted by the ethnic strife. Broadband
services were made partially available in mid-July. These broadband services
were also banned for around two months from May 4.
For the first
time, the order said the State Government would “go for opening of mobile
towers on trial basis in those district headquarters which had not been
affected by violence”.
The government
order added, “The same, if found feasible, shall be replicated to other areas
where the law-and-order situation has improved.”
Over 180 people
have been killed since ethnic clashes first broke out in May. Manipur has
remained gripped by recurring bouts of violence ever since.
Both sides had a
number of grievances against the other that culminated into clashes with the
main issue being a move to give Meiteis Scheduled Tribe status and an attempt
to turf out tribals living in protected forest areas. The order to give Meiteis
Scheduled Tribe status has been rolled back.
Agencies
