In an official directive, the Director General of Police for Manipur has issued an extension of the internet ban within the state, now set to continue until October 11. This decision has been made in response to ongoing unrest and incidents of violence that have occurred in various parts of the northeastern state.
The rationale behind this extension revolves around concerns that social media platforms may potentially serve as a means to incite violence and facilitate the dissemination of hate speech. The Manipur Police, in light of these concerns, find it imperative to exercise caution and maintain internet restrictions.
A notification released by the state government on Sunday elaborated on this issue, expressing apprehension regarding the possibility of certain antisocial elements exploiting social media extensively. These elements may employ platforms for the transmission of inflammatory images, hate speech, and hate video messages, thereby stirring public sentiments and potentially leading to significant repercussions for the state's law and order situation.
The order also highlights the continuing reports of violence, including confrontations between the public and security forces, attempts to mob elected officials, protests in front of police stations, and other civil disturbances. All these factors contribute to the decision to extend the internet ban in order to mitigate potential risks associated with online hate speech and the incitement of violence.
It should be noted that mobile internet services in Manipur were only recently restored during the last week of September after an extended period of four months marked by ethnic violence and social unrest.
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