‘Shocking Act Of Censorship’, Allege Manipur Tribal Leaders After Twitter Account Blocked

Imphal: The Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), the group spearheading the agitation against Biren Singh-led BJP government in Manipur, alleged a “shocking act of censorship” after its Twitter handle was “withheld” in India.

“ITLF Media Cell’s account has been withheld in India in response to a legal demand,” reads a statement on the tribal body’s Twitter page.

Claiming that it has been subjected to a shocking act of censorship, the tribal leaders’ group said that taking down the Twitter account “is yet another attempt to stifle the already marginalised Kuki-Zo tribal voice” and amounts to a violation of Article 19 (freedom of speech and expression) of the Indian Constitution.

“Blocking of the ITLF Media Cell Twitter account is yet another attempt to stifle the already marginalized Kuki-Zo tribal voice. This act comes as an addition to the already crippling 40+ days of internet shutdown in the Manipur Hills districts (minimal restriction in the valley districts), severely limiting and hampering the ability of the Kuki-Zo tribals to report on-ground daily incidents of attacks perpetrated by state-sponsored Meitei separatists, rampaging Meitei mobs including Meira Paibis, and radicalized groups such as Arambai Tenggol and Meetei Leepun,” ITLF said in a statement.

There was no end to the violence in the north-eastern hill state as mobs tried to torch houses of state BJP leaders and vandalise a police station in and around Imphal only to be dispersed by RAF personnel.

Union Minister RK Ranjan Singh’s house was burnt down by a mob of 1,200, which lobbed petrol bombs late on Thursday night.

Over 100 people have lost been killed in the ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur that broke out a month ago.