- Wednesday, March 12, 2025
The state home department said the internet services have been suspended to curb the misuse of social media for transmission hate speeches and hate videos
By: Shajil Kumar
THE MANIPUR government on Tuesday suspended internet services in the entire state for five days amid intensified agitation by students.
The students are demanding the removal of the DGP and the security advisor to the Manipur government for their alleged inability to deal with the law and order situation in the state.
At least eight people have been killed and over 12 injured in a fresh wave of violence in the strife-torn state, which included drone and missile attacks.
The state home department said the internet services have been suspended to curb the misuse of social media for transmission hate speeches and videos.
“Temporary suspension/curbing of internet and mobile data services including Lease Lines, VSATs, broadbands and VPN services (were ordered) in the territorial jurisdiction of the state of Manipur for five days with effect from 3 PM of September 10 to till 3 PM of September 15,” the notification said.
Security forces fired tear gas shells on Tuesday as student and women demonstrators clashed with them during the agitators’ attempt to march towards the Raj Bhavan in Imphal.
Over 40 students were injured during the clashes, police said.
Manipur University students also staged a protest rally and burnt the effigy of union home minister Amit Shah.
They later headed for the state secretariat, but were stopped at Kakwa in Imphal West district, he said.
An indefinite curfew, preventing people from coming out of their houses, has been clamped in Imphal East and West districts.
Prohibitory orders under Section 163 (2) of BNSS has been imposed in Thoubal.
The Centre has also directed the deployment of two more CRPF battalions comprising about 2,000 personnel for security duties in ethnic strife-torn Manipur, official sources said.
More than 200 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic strife between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kukis since May last year.
The use of drones as a weapon to drop bombs was first noticed in Manipur on September 1 in Koutruk village in Imphal West district.
The new wave of clashes is taking place in the ethnically diverse Jiribam, which was earlier largely untouched by the ethnic clashes in Imphal Valley. (PTI)
