Manipur violence: HC directs govt to operationalise mobile towers, on a trial basis, in unaffected areas

The Manipur High Court has directed the state government to operationalise mobile towers, on a trial basis, in all those district headquarters which have not been affected by ethnic strife.

On Sunday the Manipur government extended the mobile internet ban in the state till November 8.

An order issued by the division bench comprising Chief Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Golmei Gaiphulshillu Kabui asked the state "to extend the services to areas" which were unaffected by violence.


The order stated, “The State of Manipur is directed to open and operationalize mobile towers, on a trial basis, in all those District Headquarters which have not been affected by violence and thereafter, if found feasible, extend the services to other areas where the law and order situation, so permits. It is clarified that even in the Districts that are partially affected by violence, those areas which are not so affected - in the same District - mobile towers shall be operationalized forthwith”.

The court has sought a list of compliance by November 9. The court also asked the state to upload on its official website copies of all the orders issued in relation to the suspension or curbing of mobile internet data services.

The Manipur government on Sunday extended the mobile internet ban for another three days till November 8.

Commissioner, Home, T. Ranjit Singh in a notification said there are high chances 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 the law-and-order situation in Manipur.

“......also elements of 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 be transmitted/circulated to the public through social media/ messaging services on mobile services, SMS services and dongle services specially in the context of the recent incidents of violence in some parts of the state,” the notification said.

The Home Department extended the mobile Internet ban thrice in less than two weeks.

In view of massive students' agitation, the Manipur government on September 26, two days after the ban was lifted after 143 days, again suspended mobile Internet data services, internet/data services and after each five days, the ban had been extended.

After the devastating ethnic violence broke out between the non-tribal Meitei and tribal Kuki communities on May 3, mobile internet was banned in the entire state.