New Delhi. Amid the deteriorating situation in Manipur, the state government on Tuesday decided to ban internet and mobile data services for the next five days. Under this ban, internet services will remain closed till 3 pm on September 15. The notice issued by the Manipur government said that this step has been taken to stop hate speeches on social media and attempts to incite violence by miscreants in the state. Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said in his statement that this ban on the Internet has been imposed keeping in mind the peace and security of the state. Earlier, the government had called the Central Reserve Police Force to control the situation in the state and curfew has also been imposed in many areas.
The Home Department ordered the suspension of internet and mobile data services to stop hate-mongering content on social media. The ban also includes leased line, VSAT, broadband and VPN services.
On Tuesday, hundreds of protesters tried to march towards the Raj Bhavan. Police and security forces used tear gas to stop students and women protesters. The protesters are demanding the removal of Manipur DGP and Security Advisor. District Magistrates of Imphal West and Imphal East districts imposed curfew. However, health services, engineering department, municipal bodies, electricity, petrol pumps, functioning of courts, media and other essential services have been exempted during this period. According to media reports, Manipur Police has recovered a stockpile of state-of-the-art rockets. The incident contradicted the claims made by former Assam Rifles DG Lieutenant General PC Nair, in which he said that drones or rockets were not used. There was a lot of controversy in the state over calling Manipur Police ‘Meitei Police’. IGP K Jayant Singh and IGP (Operations) IK Muivah rejected this statement and said that Manipur Police consists of people from different communities and such allegations are baseless. More than 200 people were killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur in May 2023 last year.
Latest updates from #Manipur: Police started firing at student protesters & many injured. Students occupied prominent central landmark of Manipur- Khwairamband Mothers market. Students are demanding PM @narendramodi action against Kuki Militants who fired Ballistic missiles &… pic.twitter.com/bigCIWmOKQ
— Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) September 10, 2024
