Imphal : The Manipur government on Sunday announced an extension of the mobile internet ban in the state for an additional three days, until November 8, 2023.
This decision comes in response to recent incident where a mob attacked the 1st Manipur Rifles Battalion camp with intent to loot weapons after a Sub-Division Police Officer with the Manipur Police, Chingtham Anand Kumar, was shot dead Tuesday in Moreh, near the India-Myanmar border.
“There are high chances that some anti-social elements might use social media extensively for transmission of images, hate speech and video messages inciting the passion of the public which might have serious repercussions for the law and order situation in the state,” Commissioner Home, T. Ranjit Singh noted in his order justifying the extension of the internet ban on mobile.
“ … 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/ circulated to the public through social media…in the context of the recent incidents of violence in some parts of the state,” the order read.
With the exception of a few days in September, mobile internet has remained banned in Manipur since May 3 when ethnic clashes erupted between the Meitei community and tribal Kuki.
The Manipur government has been extending the prohibition periodically.
In the meanwhile, the state government has decided for opening of mobile towers on trial basis in those district headquarters of the state which had not been affected by violence.
“The same, if found feasible, shall be replicated to other areas where the law and order situation has improved,” the government order said.
Over 180 people have been killed, more than 1,100 injured, and nearly 55,000 people have been rendered homeless since ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki broke out in Manipur on May 3.
