Manipur govt. suspends internet services for 5 days

Our Correspondent

Imphal, Aug. 7 (EMN): The Manipur government has suspended mobile internet services for five days “in the territorial jurisdiction of the entire state of Manipur,” stated an order issued by special secretary (Home) H Gyan Prakash on August 6.

The order stated that the step was taken to prevent disturbances to the peaceful co-existence of the communities and maintenance of public order.

As per the order, some anti-social elements are using social media extensively for transmission of images, hate speech and hate video messages to incite passions of the public.

 “This order is issued to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order in the state of Manipur and shall be in force for next five days with immediate effect from the time this suspension order becomes operational or till further orders,” it stated.

The order also mentioned that there was an incident of burning an Eco-van at Phougakchao Ikhai Awang Leikai area along Tiddim road on August 6 as reported by SP Bishnupur district. The incident has created volatile law and order situation, it added.

Without delay the district magistrates of Bishnupur and Churachandpur districts have ordered Section 144 of CrPC in their respective districts for two months by issuing separate orders on August 6, it stated.

But the situation in Churachandpur is peaceful as of now because of the relevant measures by district authority and initiatives by the local peace bodies, according to a senior official of the district.

In the last few days, the state of Manipur has seen unrest arising out of arrest of five leaders of All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur on charges of conspiring to impose economic blockade in the hill districts of Manipur and subsequent imposition of 24-hour total shutdown, followed by economic blockade over the alleged report of non-tabling of the Hill Area Committee recommended “The Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill 2021” in the assembly.

However, the Manipur assembly on its concluding day on August 5 passed “The Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils (Sixth amendment) bill, 2022” with few amendments while “The Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils (Seventh amendment) bill,2022” has been referred to the Hill Area Committee.