Manipur government extends ban on internet services till July 10, citing the need to prevent disturbances to public order. Schools in Manipur reopen for Class 1-8. Violence continues in the state, with clashes between different communities and demands for inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe list.
Manipur has been witnessing violence after clashes erupted during a rally organised by the All Tribals Students Union (ATSU) to protest the demand for the inclusion of Meiteis in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) list. More than 130 people have lost their lives over 3,000 injured in the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki community people in Manipur that broke out more than a month ago. The Meitei community has been demanding its inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe list like the Kuki community, whose members primarily reside in the hills. The tribal communities have protested the Meitei demand.
In a latest updates, the Manipur government has further extended the ban on internet services till 10 July.
Here are the top 10 Updates you should know
1. Manipur government on Wednesday further extended the ban on internet services in the State till July 10, 2023. An order issued by the Manipur Home Department said steps are being taken to prevent the imminent danger of loss of life, damage to public/private property, and widespread disturbances to public tranquillity. “In exercise of the powers conferred under Rule 2 of Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017, having satisfied that the situation is likely to cause serious disturbances to the peaceful co-existence and maintenance of public order, do hereby order further suspension/curbing of mobile data services, internet/data services including broadband viz. Reliance Jio Fibre, Airtel Xtreme Black, BSNL FTTH, VPN etc. and internet/data services through VSATS of Bharatnet Phase-II in the territorial jurisdiction of the State of Manipur,” an official notification said.
2. According to the official notification, this order shall be in force for another five days with immediate effect from the time this suspension order becomes operational till 3:00 pm on July 10.
3. The state government further said that 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 on the law and order situation in Manipur.
4. On Wednesday, schools under the Department of Education (Schools) of the Manipur government reopened and resumed their normal classes for Class 1-8 after more than two months of closure.
5. The move was taken keeping in mind the welfare of the students, said sources privy to the positive development, adding the parents and guardians of the students are happy with the opening of schools after prolonged summer vacation.
6. An incident of violence was also reported after the house of an Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel was torched by a mob in Manipur’s Thoubal district after he foiled the attempts of rioters to loot firearms from the police armoury. The incident took place at Samaram on Tuesday night after a 27-year-old man, identified as Ronaldo, was killed in a clash when a 700-800-strong mob tried to storm the camp of the 3rd IRB at Wangbal, 4 km away, to loot firearms from the police armoury. The jawan performed his duty well and did not allow the rioters to loot the police weapons store, security officials said. He was part of the IRB unit guarding the armoury, they added.
7. Firing between groups of unidentified gunmen was reported during the day in Luangshangol / Phaileng area along the border of Imphal West and Kangpokpi districts. Security forces controlled the situation, the police said in a statement.
8. National team’s Manipuri footballer Jeakson Singh created a flutter on Tuesday night by wrapping himself in a Meitei flag while collecting his individual medal after India beat Kuwait in the final of the SAFF Championship. The flag Jeakson wrapped himself in, is called Flag of Kangleipak or Salai Taret Flag — a rectangular seven-colour flag which represents the seven clan dynasties of the Meitei ethnicity in ancient Manipur.
9. On Wednesday, the Congress asked PM Modi to take a cue from Rahul Gandhi and visit violence-hit Manipur to understand the pain of the people and said that it would seek a “specific reply” from the government on the situation in the state in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament. The opposition party also demanded that Prime Minister Modi hold an all-party meeting as the first one was convened under Home Minister Amit Shah.
10. The BJP had said that Gandhi’s visit would not help the situation in the state and he was only trying to take political benefit from the crisis.
by Karishma Pranav Bhavsar for mint
