The Manipur government has decided to extend the suspension of internet services in the northeastern state until October 21. The reason behind this extension is to counteract the activities of anti-social elements and to uphold peace, harmony, law, and order in Manipur.
In an official notification issued on Monday, the state government highlighted that the Director General of Police for Manipur Police expressed concerns regarding various incidents of violence. These incidents included clashes between the public and security forces, attempts by mobs to approach elected officials' residences, and civil unrest at police stations.
The government emphasized that there is an imminent threat to the loss of life and damage to public and private property, as well as the disruption of public peace. This threat is largely due to the dissemination of inflammatory content and false rumors through social media, mobile services, SMS, and dongle services.
The ban is in effect until 7:45 p.m. on October 21, with concerns that internet services might exacerbate the ongoing violence in Manipur and hinder peaceful coexistence and public order.
Since May 3, over 180 individuals have lost their lives, and hundreds have sustained injuries following the outbreak of violence. This violence began with a "Tribal Solidarity March" organized in the hill districts of Manipur to protest the Meitei community's request for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.
Although the government had briefly lifted the ban on broadband internet in mid-July, it was reinstated on September 26 due to public agitation following the viral dissemination of photographs of two missing students.
Mobile internet services were first restricted on May 3 due to the violence, but they were partially restored on September 23 following an announcement by Chief Minister N Biren Singh.
In terms of the state's demographics, Meiteis account for roughly 53 percent of the population and primarily reside in the Imphal Valley, while the tribal communities, including Nagas and Kukis, make up about 40 percent of the population and are predominantly located in the hill districts.
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