Manipur: Internet Suspension in 9 Districts Extended Until December 3

IMPHAL: The Manipur government has further extended the suspension of internet services in nine districts for two more days. This will now continue till 5:15 PM on December 3. This order was issued by the state's Home Department based on apprehensions about the law and order situation in the region.

This order affects Imphal West, Imphal East, Kakching, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Churachandpur, Kangpokpi, Pherzawl, and Jiribam. These districts will lack mobile internet, mobile data, VSATs, and VPN services. It said the step was undertaken in public interest to continue preventing disturbances.

The first suspension was done on November 16 as incidents of violence were related to the discovery of six bodies - three women and three children - in the rivers of Jiri and Barak which run through Manipur and into Assam. Discovery raised much unrest among people for which the government tightened several steps to control it.

In response to the public problems created by the restrictions, the government relaxed the ban on broadband services like Internet Leased Lines (ILL) and Fiber to the Home (FTTH) on November 19. This relaxation was supposed to help residents, healthcare providers, educational institutions, and businesses. However, this was done with severe restrictions, including the prohibition of hotspot sharing and limiting the connections to authorized users only to avoid misuse.

The extension of suspension is actually a reflection of the careful approach of the government toward the situation. Authorities closely monitor developments, implying that whether services will be fully restored depends on how the law and order situation unfolds. This measure thus highlights challenges in balancing the public interest in safety versus the imperative for connectivity at times of crisis.

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