With Manipur still reeling under violence, the Manipur Government has issued an order on October 11 extending the “suspension/curbing of mobile internet/data services, internet/data services through VPN in the territorial jurisdiction of the State of Manipur for another 5(five) days with immediate effect.”
The order issued by T. Ranjit Singh, Commissioner (Home), Government of Manipur stated that it has continued to receive reports of incidents of violence “like confrontation of the public with security forces, trying to mob elected member’s residences, civil protests in front of police stations etc.”
Expressing apprehension that anti-social elements might use social media extensively for transmission of images, hate speech and hate video messages, the Manipur Government stated, “there is an imminent danger of loss of life and /or damage to public/private property, and wide spread disturbances to public tranquillity and communal harmony, as a result of inflammatory material and false rumours, which might be transmitted/circulated to the public through social media/ messaging services on mobile services, SMS services and dongle services.”
According to the Manipur Government, the order has been necessitated to maintain law and order in public interest, by stopping the spread of disinformation and false rumours, through various social media platform and electronic devices and “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.”
The order also reminded that any person found guilty for violation of the orders will be liable for legal action.
Download Nagaland Tribune app on Google Play
A twitter post by the Manipur Police further informed that Search operations were conducted by security forces in the fringe and vulnerable areas of Kakching, Bishnupur, Churachandpur and Thoubal districts. During the operation, 02 (two) arms and 01 (one) Indian made Hand Grenade were recovered from Kakching District.
The Movement of 343 vehicles along NH-37 and 195 vehicles along NH-2 with essential items have been ensured. “Strict security measures are taken up in all vulnerable locations and security convoy is provided in sensitive stretches in order to ensure free and safe movement of the vehicles. A total of 132 Nakas/Checkpoints were installed in different Districts of Manipur, both in the hill and the valley and Police detained 1641 persons in connection with violations in different districts of the State,” stated the Manipur Police.
