The Manipur government has imposed a five-day “temporary suspension or curbing of internet and mobile data services” across the state, along with curfews in Imphal East and West districts and prohibitory orders in Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching, as per The Hindu.
Manipur has been in strife for over 15 months with tensions between the Kuki and Meitei communities. At least 10 people have died in fresh violence since September 6, while the total death toll is more than 200.
The Kuki community has been demanding a separate administration while accusing the state government and Chief Minister N Biren Singh of being partisan. Meanwhile, the CM has demanded that the centre reinstate the CM office’s control over the law and order apparatus. The internet ban order came following clashes between the police and students protesting to demand the removal of the state police chief.
The temporary ban on internet, SMS services, mobile data services, including Lease Lines, VSATs, Broadbands and BPN services, has been imposed across the state.
The order issued by the state home department today, notified as “most immediate”, stated that “to thwart the design and activities of anti-national and anti-social elements and to maintain peace and communal harmony and to prevent any loss of life” and for “stopping the spread of disinformation and false rumours”, the state government is imposing temporary internet suspension under Rule 2 of Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017.
Amid fresh violence, several prominent national dailies pointed to the need for a “political solution” by the BJP-led central government, with some also declaring Singh unfit to remain in power as the CM.
Manipur recorded the world’s longest internet shutdown last year, with journalists, students, and businessmen significantly bearing its brunt.
Newslaundry had reported from ground zero how locals trekked to hilltops and made temporary arrangements to access the internet. For a remote employee, it meant packing up and moving to Mizoram, spending thousands of rupees just to keep their job, while for journalists, it was reporting in darkness. Read here and watch here.
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