Manipur Violence- Internet suspended, protests erupt, MHA passes orders on action
Manipur University students also staged a protest rally and burnt the effigy of Union Home Minister Amit Shah
New Delhi, September 11
As Manipur violence resurfaces again, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in a notification ordered a shutdown of the Internet in the state until September 15.
A total of eight people have died and over 12 injured in a fresh wave of violence in the state, which includes drone and missile attacks.
The Home Department, government of Manipur released an order to “curb/temporarily suspend internet and mobile data services including Lease Lines, VSATs, Broadbands and VPN services” in the state for five days from Tuesday (September 10) 3 pm to Sunday (September 15, 2024) 3 pm.
The order stated that the order is justified by satisfying conditions like an apprehension of “some anti-social elements” using social media to share images, hate speech and hate video messages to incite “the passions of the public”.
It also said that inflammatory material and false rumours might be shared through social media, SMS and dongle services, which could lead to an “imminent danger of loss of life and/or damage to public/private property, and widespread disturbances to public tranquillity and communal harmony.”
The Manipur government has suspended internet services in five districts -- Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching, for five days.
A score of students have begun a protest in Khwairamband Women Market in Imphal. The students are protesting, demanding action against those behind the recent drone and missile attacks, and calling for the protection of the state's "territorial and administrative integrity". They tried to march towards the Raj Bhavan along the BT Road on Tuesday but were stopped by security forces near the Congress Bhavan.
The Manipur police resorted to tear gas shells as student and women demonstrators clashed with security forces during the agitators' attempt to march towards the Raj Bhavan to press for their demands to remove the DGP and security advisor to the Manipur government. Manipur University students also staged a protest rally and burnt the effigy of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The violence in Manipur resurfaced on September 6, when an RPG was used by Kuki militants in Moirang, Bishnupur district, killed a person performing a puja at the home of Manipur's first chief minister.
