IMPHAL: The Manipur government has decided to lift the prolonged ban on mobile internet services across the state, effective immediately.
However, the government has specified that the ban will persist in certain border areas of select districts.
The announcement, made on Sunday, marked the end of a seven-month-long suspension, aiming to provide relief to the general public, which faced inconveniences due to the extended duration of the ban.
T Ranjit Singh, the Commissioner (Home), issued a notice stating that the decision to relax the suspension was influenced by the reported improvement in the law-and-order situation in recent days.
“Considering the law-and-order situation, which has reportedly improved in the past few days and inconveniences faced by the general public due to the long duration of such suspension, the state government has decided to relax the suspension,” read the notice.
According to the notice, mobile internet services will resume across the state, except for specific areas along the borders of Churachandpur and Bishnupur, Churachandpur and Kakching, Kangpokpi and Imphal West, Kangpokpi and Imphal East, Kangpokpi and Thoubal, and Tengnoupal and Kakching.
These areas, predominantly inhabited by either Meiteis or Kukis, have witnessed a majority of the violence, including gunfights, arson, and abductions over the past seven months.
The suspension was briefly revoked on September 23 but reinstated on September 26 to curb the utilization of social media in disseminating and sharing images and videos containing offensive content.
This measure aimed to prevent potential disruptions to law and order resulting from such materials.
The decision comes on the heels of a peace agreement signed in New Delhi between the Centre, Manipur government, and the United National Liberation Force (UNLF), the oldest militant outfit in the state.
The move is expected to ease tensions and contribute to the ongoing efforts to restore normalcy in the region.
