The Manipur government on Wednesday said it has extended the suspension of internet services in the state for another five days till 3 pm of July 10 “to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order”.
The authorities banned internet services across the northeastern state for the first time on May 3 when clashes between ethnic communities began. It is being extended from time to time.
“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 law and order situation,” a statement issued by Home Commissioner T Ranjit Singh said.
Also on Wednesday, the house of an Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel was torched by a mob in Manipur’s Thoubal district after he foiled the attempts of rioters to loot firearms from the police armoury, officials said.
The incident took place at Samaram on Tuesday night after a 27-year-old man, identified as Ronaldo, was killed in a clash when a 700-800-strong mob tried to storm the camp of the 3rd IRB at Wangbal, 4 km away, to loot firearms from the police armoury.
The jawan performed his duty well and did not allow the rioters to loot the police weapons store, security officials said.
He was part of the IRB unit guarding the armoury, they added.
Police said that four bunkers were destroyed in Kangpokpi, Imphal West and Churachandpur districts on Wednesday by a combined team of the state police and central forces.
Firing between groups of unidentified gunmen was reported during the day in Luangshangol / Phaileng area along the border of Imphal West and Kangpokpi districts. Security forces controlled the situation, the police said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Students of class I to VIII of 4,521 schools in Manipur attended classes on Wednesday after a gap of over two months during which the state witnessed ethnic violence.
The students displaced by the ethnic strife are allowed to get admission for free to nearby schools and the requirement of permission for students of class IX to class XII opting to change school has been relaxed for those affected by the violence, according to an official release.
The schools under the Department of Education (Schools), Government of Manipur, have resumed normal classes for class I to class VIII on Wednesday keeping in mind the welfare of the students, it said.
According to the release, out of 4,617 schools, 96 could not be opened since those were being used for relief measures and other purposes.
“The parents and guardians of the students are happy about the opening of schools after prolonged summer vacation. During the inspection of schools on the first day of resumption of classes, students express their happiness.
“The schools had extended summer vacation since May 4, 2023, till July 4, 2023, due to prevailing law and order situation,” the release said.
The Department of Education (Schools) and Samagra Shiksha, Manipur, have distributed textbooks, exercise books, pens, pencils, sports items and school uniforms for the displaced children staying at relief camps in both hill and valley districts.
Till now, 27,629 textbooks, 20,375 notebooks, 4,955 pencils, 3,483 sharpeners and erasers and 5,171 pens have been distributed to relief camps through the officers concerned. Further, 1,536 sports items such as football, carom board sets, chess and ludo sets have been distributed to the relief camps.
“It was observed during inspection today that the maximum attendance in different schools were the displaced students from relief camps,” the release said.
