• By Mayukh Debnath
  • Sat, 23 Sep 2023 11:50 AM (IST)
  • Source:ANI
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Manipur Violence: The resumption of internet services for general public in ethnic violence-affected Manipur will take place from today, Chief Minister N Biren Singh announced on Saturday. Internet services in Manipur have remained suspended in view of the prevailing situation since May 3, when deadly clashes broke out between the Kuki and Meitei communities in the state. The state government had been periodically reviewing the resumption of internet services in a phas-wise manner.

"From today onwards, internet services will be opened for the public," Biren Singh said during a media interaction. The conflict in Manipur has claimed more than 180 lives so far. The ethnic clashes erupted following a contentious verdict by the Manipur High Court regarding the grant of Scheduled Tribe status to Meitis.

The state’s home department, in an order, said, "…the Governor of Manipur is pleased to revoke all orders issued regarding the suspension of mobile data services…and hereby, orders the restoration of MMS over mobile service providers/mobile internet/data services in the territorial jurisdiction of Manipur normally with effect from 23-09-2023."

He also said that the Free Movement Regime (FMR) agreement, signed between the governments of India and Myanmar, has remained "closed". Earlier, in July, the Manipur government announced the conditional restoration of broadband services in the state. Mobile internet services, however, remained suspended in view of the violence the state was undergoing.