Manipur Violence: Mobile internet services to be restored from Saturday, says CM Biren Singh

Mobile internet services, which were suspended after ethnic violence erupted in the northeastern state on May 3, will be restored from Saturday, said Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh while addressing a press conference.

"The government had suspended mobile internet services on May 3 to check the spread of fake news, propaganda and hate speech. However, with the improvement of the situation, mobile internet services will be restored across the state from today," said Singh.

He also called for the cancellation of the free movement regime that allows people residing close to both sides of the India-Myanmar border to venture 16 km deep into each other's territory without any document.


The CM highlighted the need for fencing the India-Myanmar border to deal with the influx of 'illegal immigrants.'


Previously, "The Home Department should consider for devising mechanism/methods for providing internet services through mobile phones by whitelisting the mobile numbers on case to case basis and in a phase-wise manner. The State authorities are directed to consider this aspect and to submit a report on the next date," said the Manipur High Court while hearing a bunch of petitions seeking restoration of mobile internet services that were blocked after violence broke out in the state on May 3.

On July 25, Manipur government after 84 days with certain conditions partially lifted the ban on the internet in the ethnic violence-hit state.

Manipur Home Commissioner T Ranjit Singh said 'the state government has made considered decision to lift suspension in case of broadband service (Internet Lease Line and Fibre to the Home) conditionally in a liberalised manner subject to fulfillment of 10 conditions, including connection have to be only through static IP.'

Violence gripped Manipur on May 3 after clashes erupted during a rally organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest the demand for the inclusion of Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list.

Riots in Manipur
Violence first erupted in the Torbung area in Churachandpur district during the 'Tribal Solidarity March' organised by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) on Wednesday to protest the demand of Meiteis for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

The march was organised by tribals -- including Nagas and Kukis -- after the Manipur High Court asked the state government last month to send a recommendation to the Centre within four weeks on the demand for ST status by the Metei community.

During the march in Torbung, an armed mob allegedly attacked people of the Meitei community, leading to retaliatory attacks in the valley districts, which escalated the violence throughout the state. Another trigger was eviction of Kuki villages which the government said were encroaching on protected forest areas.

(With agency inputs)