Manipur suspends internet access to curb spread of violence, imposes curfew in three districts

With a recent surge in violence since the beginning of the month, Manipur has banned mobile internet, broadband, and VPNs for five days.

An order released by the Home Department of the state government states, "In view of the prevailing law and order situation in the State of Manipur, 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 of Manipur."

“There is an imminent danger of loss of life and/or damage to public or private property and widespread disturbances to public tranquility and communal harmony as a result of inflammatory material and false rumors, which might be transmitted or circulated to the public through social media/messaging services on mobile services, SMS services, and dongle services,” it added.

The order continues, “To thwart the design and activities of anti-national and anti-social elements and to maintain peace and communal harmony and to prevent any loss of life or danger to public/private property, it 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 platform 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 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,” it states.

"I hereby order temporary suspension/curbing of internet and mobile data services, including lease lines, VSATs, broadband, and VPN services, in the territorial jurisdiction of the State of Manipur for five days," the Manipur government's Joint Secretary (Home Department) said in the order.

An indefinite curfew has been imposed in both of the Imphal districts, Imphal East and Imphal West, and Thoubal district on Sep 10 due to "the developing law and order situation," the district administration said.

With the exception of the media and vital services, the Imphal West government has prohibited "the movement of any person(s) outside their respective residences" until further orders.

Students have organized large-scale protests in the valley areas, especially in Thoubal and Imphal, in response to the 11 ethnic violence deaths that have occurred in the state since Sep 1.

A conflict between protesters and police in Thoubal resulted in at least 20 injuries, including police officers.

Protesters threw stones at the police after they used stun grenades and tear gas on them. Students staging protests in Imphal even attempted to break into Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya's official residences.

Students from various schools and colleges set up camps at the Khwairamband Women Market in Imphal on Sep 9. The students, in their uniforms, were helped by women shopkeepers to set up camps at the market.

Thousands of students protested in front of the Manipur Secretariat and Raj Bhavan on Sep 9, demanding action against those behind the recent drone and missile attacks and calling for the protection of the state's "territorial and administrative integrity."

"We have given a 24-hour deadline for Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya’s response to the six demands we have placed. We will decide our future course of action after the deadline ends," student leader Ch Victor Singh said.

Later, student representatives who had also met with Governor Acharya said that they had made six requests, among them the dismissal of the state government's security advisor and director general of police (DGP) for their alleged inability to control the violence.

They also demanded that the state government take control of the Unified Command, which is now led by retired CRPF DG Kuldiep Singh.