THE MANIPUR government in its latest notification announced that the internet ban in the state will continue to remain for another five days to stop the spread of misinformation and false rumours. The northeastern state is going through a sensitive phase following clashes between the Meiteis and tribals community in which 71 people have so far lost their lives.
The mobile internet in the state was banned on May 3 while other forms of internet, including broadband, were banned on May 4. The government continued their ban on the internet to stop the transmission of images, hate speech and hate video messages.
In a letter which was released on Tuesday, the government said, “continued apprehension 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 the State of Manipur.”
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The state government has also launched a phone number for the citizens to report misinformation and rumours in the state.
“We have introduced one phone number (9485280461) for having ‘Rumour Free Manipur’ so that anyone having knowledge of any rumour or incident which is suspected to be correct or incorrect should dial this number and narrate it,” state’s security advisor and former CRPF chief Kuldeep Singh said.
The violent clashes in Manipur erupted on May 3 after the tribals of the Kuki community attended a ‘Solidarity March’ which was organised by the students’ body in all 10 hill districts of Manipur to protest against the attempts for the inclusion of the majority Meitei community in the ST category.
The Solidarity March was organised against the recent Manipur High Court order directing the state government to send a recommendation to the Centre regarding the demand for inclusion of the majority Hindu Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribes (STs).
The Hindu Meities community make up around 53 per cent of the state’s population and lives mainly in the Imphal Valley. The Christian Kuki tribals do not want the inclusion of the majority of Meiteis in the ST category because they believe it would put pressure on government benefits.