The Manipur government has suspended mobile data services in the state for five days from Sunday to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order following the burning of a vehicle by “three-four youths” on National Highway 2 in Bishnupur district on Saturday.
The government action has come amid a protest called by tribal student outfits following the arrest of five All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM) leaders on Tuesday, who were on Saturday remanded in judicial custody for 15 days.
The ATSUM has been fighting for more autonomy for the hill areas.On Saturday, around 30 students and three police personnel were injured when cops tried to disperse protesters at a rally in Imphal demanding the unconditional release of the ATSUM leaders and locking down of the union’s office in Imphal by a valley-based organisation.
The twin developments saw the ATSUM vow to intensify their agitation for the release of their leaders and also for the tabling of the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill, 2021, granting more autonomy to the ADC.The trigger for the ATSUM protest has been the non-tabling of the ADC Bill in the recently concluded Assembly session by the BJP-led state government.
The order suspending mobile Internet services in the entire state, issued by special secretary (home) H. Gyan Prakash on Saturday night, said some anti-social elements were using social media extensively for transmission of images, hate speech and hate video messages to incite the public.
“The social media has also become a handy tool for rumour-mongers and is being used to incite the general public which might have serious repercussions for the law and order situation in the state,” the order said.
According to the order, there was an “imminent danger” of loss of life or damage to public/ private property and “widespread disturbances” to public tranquillity and communal harmony as a result of inflammatory material and rumours that could be transmitted to the public through social media and messages on phones.The order was issued under powers conferred under Rule 2 of the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017.
