The Manipur Government on Tuesday suspended mobile internet services in the territorial jurisdiction of the state for five days with immediate effect in view of the fresh violence that hit the state recently.
The same was informed by joint secretary (Home), Government of Manipur, Mayengbam Veto Singh on Tuesday in a latest notice by orders and in the name of the Governor. The move was taken as the situation is likely to cause possible serious disturbances to the peaceful co-existence and maintenance of public order, it said.
It ordered temporary suspension/curbing of internet and mobile data services including Lease Lines, VSATs, Broadbands and VPN services in the territorial jurisdiction of the state for five days with effect from 3 pm of Tuesday till 3 pm of Sunday.
It noted the prevailing law and order situation in the state, and said that 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.
It also stated that there is an imminent danger of loss of life and/or damage to public/private property, and wide spread disturbances to public tranquillity and communal harmony, as a result of inflammatory material and false rumours, which might be transmitted/circulated to the public through social media/messaging services on mobile services, SMS services and dongle services.
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The statement said that to thwart the design and activities of anti-national and anti-social elements and to maintain peace and communal harmony and prevent any loss of life or danger to public/private property, t has become necessary to take adequate measures to maintain law and order in public interest, by stopping the spread of disinformation and false rumours, through various social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. on various electronic equipment like tablet, computer, mobile phone etc. and sending bulk SMS, for facilitating and/or mobilization of mobs of agitators and demonstrators, which can cause loss of life and/or damage to public/private property by indulging in arson/vandalism and other types of violent activities.
The suspension will apply to all except for those cases whereby the state government has exempted and allowed for whitelisting, it mentioned. The order is issued ex-parte in public interest with approval of the competent authority in exercise of the powers conferred under Rule 2 of Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017, it added.
Meanwhile, shortly after the internet suspension order was released, the State Home Department issued another order stating that the internet services will be suspended only in the territorial jurisdiction of five valley districts across the state namely Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching Districts, while exempting the hill districts.
The said order was issued by Commissioner (Home), Government of Manipur, N Ashok Kumar.
It mentioned that the order is issued ex-parte in public interest and in supersession of earlier orders [No. H-3607/4/2022-HD-HD(Pt)] issued on Tuesday with the approval of the competent authority.
Meanwhile, the government's move to ban internet services, as its first course of action to solve any issue, has drawn widespread furor from the people of the state. Many have condemned and criticised the government's infamous move to shut off the internet in the state, for reasons to curb rumours and disinformation and quell the violence, asserting that shutting off the internet did not help keep the people safe nor quelled the violence.
