The Manipur government has extended the internet shutdown in the state for another five days, until 7:45 pm on October 11. This comes after the previous order lapsed on October 6.
The internet was restored in Manipur on September 23 after five months of blockade, but the ban was reimposed within three days, with the state government citing law and order issues.
The latest order issued by the Manipur home department, on 6 October, said, “There is apprehension that some anti-social elements might use social media extensively for transmission of images, hate speech and hate video messages inciting the passions of the public which might have serious repercussions for the law and order situation in the state of Manipur.”
Fresh violence has erupted in Manipur after photos of two slain students, Luwangbi Linthoingambi Hijam (17) and Phijam Hemanjit Singh (20), began to circulate widely online following the restoration of internet services on September 23.
The two students had gone missing on July 20 as ethnic violence raged across the state. They were found dead in July, but their bodies were not identified until after the internet was restored.
The photos of their dead bodies triggered a wave of protests, especially from student groups. About 100 students who attempted to march towards chief minister N Biren Singh’s house in Imphal were stopped by security forces, and the resulting pandemonium injured a number of students, IANS reported.
Students’ body impose indefinite economic blockade against internet ban
Irked by the prolonged suspension of mobile internet services in Manipur, a student body in the Senapati district has imposed an indefinite economic blockade since Thursday evening, leaving around 90 commercial vehicles stranded along the Manipur-Nagaland border, HT reported.
However, according to Ukhrul Times, more than 300 goods-laden trucks carrying essential commodities have been stranded along the National Highway in the Senapati district due to the ongoing indefinite economic blockade called by the Senapati District Students Association (SDSA) since October 5 evening.
“According to a report from Mao, around 200 goods-laden trucks heading to Imphal are stranded along the Mao area and state border areas. Sources from Senapati mentioned that around 100 goods-laden trucks are stranded between Mao and Senapati and around 60 trucks are stranded along the highway below Senapati till T/Khullen,” it was reported.
The SDSA imposed a blockade at two entry points bordering Nagaland National Highways 2 and 129A, which serve as major lifelines for Manipur.
On October 4, the student body served a 24-hour ultimatum to the state government to lift the ban on mobile internet service in the district of Senapati where there is no law and order situation.
“We firmly believe that access to the internet is not just a privilege but a fundamental right that every citizen should enjoy without interruption. The continuous imposition of ban on mobile internet services across the entire state, even when issues are confined to specific areas, is not only unjustifiable but also infringes upon our basic rights as citizens of a free state,” HT reported a statement from SDSA as saying.
The student body said they were left with no other option but to carry out a “democratic agitation” to make their voices heard.
HT reported that the state government has not communicated with the SDSA since the association’s blockade began Thursday evening.
The SDSA will continue the economic blockade “for as long as the state government will continue to ban mobile internet services,” it was reported.
The SDSA is also reported to be in contact with its counterparts in other districts where there is no violence, such as Chandel, Tamenglong and Ukhrul, to join hands in demanding the lifting of the mobile internet services.
Disclaimer: This news article was written by Mokokchung Times with inputs from agencies