Manipur: Mobile Internet Ban Lifted in Most of the State After Seven Months

IMPHAL: After seven months, the Manipur government on Sunday lifted the ban on mobile internet services, with the exception of some locations. Since the beginning of the ethnic conflicts between the Meitei and Kuki communities on May 3, mobile internet services have been suspended in the state of Manipur.

In an effort to stop the spread of hate speech, hate images, and hate videos on social media, which could seriously affect the state of law and order, the ban was temporarily lifted on September 23 and then reinstated on September 26.

"The state government has decided to relax the suspension due to the inconveniences faced by the general public due to the long duration of such suspension and the law-and-order situation, which has reportedly improved in the past few days," a notice signed by T Ranjit Singh, Commissioner (Home), stated.

The notice said that the suspension would be lifted throughout the state, with the exception of mobile towers providing services within a 2-kilometer radius around the districts of Churachandpur and Kakching, Churachandpur and Bishnupur, Kangpokpi and Imphal West, Kangpokpi and Imphal East, Kangpokpi and Thoubal, and Tengnoupal and Kakching.

The majority of the violence, gunfights, arson, and kidnappings that have occurred over the past seven months have occurred in the Meitei or Kuki-dominated areas found in the aforementioned districts. In Manipur, violence has resulted in over 50,000 displaced people and 182 fatalities thus far.

Four days after the Manipur government and the Center signed a peace deal with the state's oldest militant group, the United National Liberation Force (UNLF), in New Delhi, the suspension was lifted in large parts of the state. It however remains to see if this lifting of the ban on mobile internet is temporary or long-lasting which majorly depends on the content being shared by the local people.

 Also Read: Manipur: ANSAM Issues Ultimatum to Manipur Government Over Unmet Demands

Also Watch: