Mobile Internet services have been suspended for five days in Manipur in an urgent order passed by the state government last night. As reported by the Superintendent of Police of Bishnupur district, a vehicle set ablaze by four men at Phougakchao Ikhang on Saturday evening created communal tension in the state.
Social media is being used to propagate hate speeches, the order said.
For the last few days, the northeastern state has been witnessing protests, bandhs, and an indefinite economic blockade on its highways called by the All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM).
ATSUM is a powerful tribal student body of Manipur that has been demanding that the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill, 2021 be tabled in the Assembly. The bill which was drafted last year looks at granting greater autonomy to the tribal areas of the state.
However, on Tuesday, the state government introduced the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council 6th and 7th Amendment Bills in the state assembly, which the protesters assert was not in accordance with their demands.
More than 30 tribal students were injured in Imphal on Saturday when police halted the protest rally. Five students were detained for 15 days by police.
The mobile internet services have been shut down to maintain law and order in the state by preventing rumors and hatred speech over social media
The All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM) has imposed an indefinite economic blockade on highways demanding the release of its arrested leaders.
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