The Manipur government has lifted the ban on internet/data services in the strife-torn state partially, after 82 days of violence.
Fresh orders issued by the Manipur government on Tuesday announced that the suspension of internet services in the state will be lifted conditionally. Internet services in Manipur have been suspended since May 4 after a series of clashes erupted between the Metei and the Kuki communities.
The order issued by state commissioner (Home) T Ranjit Singh stated that the earlier suspension of internet (ILL and FTTH) is lifted conditionally in a liberalised manner subject to fulfilment of the following terms and conditions and taking up with all possible safeguards:
a) Connection will be only through static IP and that the subscriber concerned shell not accept any other connection other than allowed for the time being (TSP/ISP shall be held responsible for non-compliance of this conditions);
b) No Wifi/ Hotspots shall be allowed from any of the routers and systems using the connection at any cost by the subscriber concerned;
c) Media Access Control Address {MAC} binding at the system level or router shalI be ensured with the help of ISP/TSP concerned;
d) Blocking of social media websites and VPNs at the local level wiIl be ensured by the subscriber concerned;
e) Shall have to ensure removal of any existing VPNs softwares from the system and not to install any new softwares VPN App by the subscriber concerned;
f) Enforcing physical monitoring by subscriber concerned/the concerned authority/officials of checking violation of the terms and conditions specified;
g) Champion pof log in ID and password for respective system on daily basis; and
h) will obey all orders/ regulations regarding any change in the condition under which service is being allowed issued by the state government from time to time by the subscriber concerned;
i) Further, in the event of any violation, subscriber concerned will be liable to be punished as per provisions of relevant laws of the land in force and that I also agree to be fixed personally responsible for any leakage/activities done by any secondary 'user of internet, in case Wifi/Hotspot had been activated without approval of Home Department from my system/router.
j) ISP shall ensure to obtain undertaking to the extent as explained above before giving any internet connection in the prescribed format without fail.
The order stated that the state government has reviewed the issues of the ban on internet since May 3, 2023 continuously without any break (except for the exempted cases) and considered the suffering of the common as the internet ban had affected important offices/ institutions, cohort of people on work from home basis, chartered accountant firms, lawyers, health facilities, refuelling centres, recharging of electricity/ mobile, booking for LPG, educational institutions, Taxation related offices, other online based citizen centric services etc.
It stated that the Director General of Police, Manipur vide letter No.IC/11(163)/2008-PHQ(Pt)/01449 dated 24-07-2023 reported that there are still reports of incidents of violence, attacking and arson of houses and premises including exchange of firing.
"The state government decides to keep suspension of Mobile Internet data under Rule 2 of Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017 as the preparedness for having effective control and regulatory mechanism for Mobile data service is not technically feasible and there are still apprehensions that the spread of disinformation and false rumours, through various social media platform such as Whatsapp, Facebook, Instagran›, Twitter etc. on electronic equipments like tablet, computer, mobile phone etc and sending bulk SMS, for facilitating and/or mobilisation 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 for which the control mechanism is still poof".
The order is being passed ex-parte in view of the emergent situation. Any person found guilty of violation of the aforesaid orders will be liable for legal action, it added.
