IMPHAL: In a move that contrasts with an earlier assurance by Chief Minister N Biren Singh, the Manipur government has extended the ongoing mobile internet ban in the state for another five days, lasting until October 31. This announcement comes despite Singh’s statement just a week ago, indicating the government’s intent to lift the ban in the forthcoming days.
According to a government notification issued on Thursday, the extension has been necessitated due to fears that “certain anti-social elements could exploit social media platforms for transmitting hate-filled content, including images, speeches, and videos, with the potential to incite public unrest”. The transmission of such content could have severe consequences for the region’s law and order, the notice warned.
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The notification, issued by Commissioner (Home) T Ranjit Singh, also cited a letter dated October 25 from the Director-General of Police (DGP). The letter highlighted ongoing incidents of violence and tensions in the region, such as confrontations between the public and security forces, attempts to mob the residences of elected members, and civil protests outside police stations.
In its defence of the continued internet restriction, the government stressed the need to “thwart the designs and activities of anti-nationals and anti-socials”.
The notification further stated, “To thwart the designs and activities of anti-nationals and anti-socials and to maintain peace and communal harmony and to prevent any loss of life, it has become necessary to take adequate measures to maintain law and order in the public interest by stopping the spread of disinformation and rumours through social media platforms.”
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For context, the initial imposition of the mobile internet ban dates back to May 3, in response to the outbreak of violence in the state. Though authorities briefly restored services on September 23, the reprieve was short-lived.
The ban was reinstated merely four days later, on September 26, after escalated tensions between students and security forces, sparked by the surfacing of images depicting the bodies of two previously missing youths.
