The suspension of mobile internet in Manipur has been partially lifted in some hill district headquarters which had not been affected by violence due to the current law and order situation crisis in the state.
As per sources, mobile internet has been restored in Ukhrul district headquarters, Tamenglong district headquarters as well as Noney district headquarters and other district headquarters. On a trial basis, a few mobile towers have resumed providing mobile internet data to the general public.
Earlier on Sunday, the state government had issued orders, stating that the ban on mobile internet has been extended till 7.45 pm of Wednesday.
However, the state Government will go for opening of mobile towers on trial basis at areas not affected by the unrest. If found feasible, the move shall be replicated to other areas where the law-and-order situation has improved, it stated.
The order issued by the Commissioner (Home) stated that there are high chances 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 have serious repercussions for the law-and-order situation in Manipur.
Therefore, the government ordered the suspension/curbing of mobile internet/data services, internet/data services through VPN in the territorial jurisdiction of Manipur for another three days, the order mentioned.
Reacting to the extension of mobile internet ban in the state, the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) announced an economic blockade from 6 pm of November 3 on the state’s traditional lifelines of Imphal-Dimapur road and Imphal-Jiribam road and the state government had committed to the same in writing a few days ago.
Notably, the October 26 Memorandum of Agreement was reportedly signed with an assurance from the Government to “restore internet connectivity in the state within five days (in three working days) subject to assessment of law and order condition”, and also to “declare the result of 190 (145+45 ST special drive) posts of Assistant Professors to be engaged on contract for one academic session on or before November 2, 2023”.
The MoA had also said that the Naga student body would resume its agitation in the event of the failure to implement the above agreement.
It may be mentioned that the High Court of Manipur has directed the state government to operationalise mobile towers, on a trial basis, in all district headquarters which have not been affected by ethnic strife.
