Curfew and prohibitory orders were imposed in three districts of Manipur on Tuesday a day after student protests demanding the restoration of peace in the strife-torn state rocked Imphal Valley.
The Manipur Government also suspended internet services in the entire State for five days amid intensified agitation by students.
The decision was taken to curb the use of social media for transmission of images, hate speech and hate video, the State home department said in a notification.
It said “In view of the prevailing law and order situation in the State of Manipur, there is 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.”
“There is an imminent danger of loss of life and /or damage to public / private property, and widespread disturbances to public tranquility and communal harmony, as a result of inflammatory material and false rumours, which might be transmitted /circulated to the public through social media / messaging services on mobile, SMS services and dongle services,” it stated.
“To thwart the design and activities of anti-national and anti-social elements and to maintain peace and communal harmony and to prevent any loss of life or danger to public / private property, it has become necessary to take adequate measures to maintain law and order in public interest, by stopping the spread of misinformation and false rumours, through various social media platform such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc on various electronic equipment like tablet, computer, mobile phone, etc, and sending bulk SMS, for facilitating and /or mobilisation of mobs of agitators and demonstrators, which can cause loss of life and /or damage to public / private property by indulging in arson / vandalism and other types of violent activities,” it said.
“Temporary suspension / curbing of internet and mobile data services including Lease Lines, VSATs, broadbands and VPN services (were ordered) in the territorial jurisdiction of the State of Manipur for five days with effect from 3 PM of September 10 to till 3 PM of September 15,” the notification said.
Meanwhile, tear gas shells were fired as student and women demonstrators on Tuesday clashed with security forces during the agitators’ attempt to march towards the Raj Bhavan to press for their demands to remove the DGP and security advisor to the Manipur Government, officials said.
Hundreds of students, who have been camping at Khwairamband Women Market since Monday, tried to march towards the Raj Bhavan along the BT Road but were stopped by security forces near the Congress Bhavan.
The Manipur Government has clamped curfew in Imphal East and West districts and prohibitory orders under Section 163 (2) of BNSS in Thoubal district in view of the student protests.
An indefinite curfew, preventing people from coming outside their houses, was clamped in Imphal East and West districts, while prohibitory orders under Section 163 (2) of BNSS were imposed in Thoubal.
“Due to the developing law and order situation in the district, earlier orders of curfew relaxation stand cancelled with immediate effect from 11 am of September 10. Hence, there is total curfew in Imphal East district with immediate effect until further orders,” an order issued by the district magistrate said.
Another order issued by the district magistrate of Imphal West said, “In supersession of all earlier orders, curfew relaxation period for September 10 is hereby lifted with effect from 11 am today.”
“Restriction on the movement of people outside their respective residences was lifted from September 1 last year,” it said. Earlier, curfew relaxation for September 10 was lifted from 5 am to 10 pm but was superseded by the latest order. Essential services, including media, electricity, court and health, are however exempted from the purview of the curfew, it said.
The orders from the two Imphal districts came in the wake of students planning to intensify their protests demanding the removal of the DGP and security advisor to the State Government for their alleged inability to deal with the law and order situation in the state.
The prohibitory orders in Thoubal prevented the assembly of five or more persons as police claimed that at least one personnel was hit on the thigh by a bullet fired from the protesting students in the district on Monday.
Meanwhile, hundreds of students from various schools and colleges spent the night at camps set up at Khwairamband Women Market in Imphal. The students, in their uniforms, were helped by women shopkeepers to set up camps at the market.
“We have given a 24-hour deadline for Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya’s response to the six demands we have placed. We will decide our future course of action after the deadline ends,” student leader Ch Victor Singh told reporters on Tuesday morning.
Thousands of students protested in front of the Manipur Secretariat and Raj Bhavan on Monday, demanding action against those behind the recent drone and missile attacks, and calling for the protection of the State’s “territorial and administrative integrity.”At least eight persons have died and over 12 injured in a fresh wave of violence, which included drone and missile attacks.
Later, the students met Chief Minister N Biren Singh and Governor Acharya. Student representatives who met Acharya later told reporters that they have placed six demands, including the removal of the Director General of Police (DGP) and the security advisor to the State Government for their alleged failure to control the violence. They also called for the Unified Command, currently chaired by former CRPF DG Kuldiep Singh, to be handed over to the State Government.
Police claimed protesting students also engaged in stone-pelting, forcing the law enforcers to fire tear gas shells to disperse them.
In Thoubal, a large number of protesters, including students, marched towards the district police headquarters and DC office on Monday.
“Police warned people to disperse but the unruly mob got violent and there was live firing from among the crowd at the police personnel in which one personnel was hit on the left thigh by a live round,” Manipur Police said in a statement.
The unruly mob also damaged one vehicle parked outside the court complex. An ambulance carrying some injured personnel was also pelted with stones, it added.
More than 200 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic strife between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kukis since May last year.
