New Delhi: Internet services have been suspended across Manipur for five days, preventing people from coming outside their houses in response to rising tensions and ongoing student protests. According to a notification issued by the Home Department, the internet shutdown will remain in place until September 15.
The Home Department, the government of Manipur released an order to “curb/temporarily suspend internet and mobile data services including Lease Lines, VSATs, Broadbands and VPN services” in the state for five days from Tuesday (September 10) 3 pm to Sunday (September 15, 2024) 3 pm.
The order stated that the order is justified by satisfying conditions like an apprehension of “some anti-social elements” using social media to share images, hate speech and hate video messages to incite “the passions of the public”.
It also said that inflammatory material and false rumours might be shared through social media, SMS and dongle services, which could lead to an “imminent danger of loss of life and/or damage to public/private property, and widespread disturbances to public tranquillity and communal harmony.”
Education authorities announced that all government, aided, and private schools and colleges in Manipur will remain closed on September 11 and 12, 2024.
Hundreds of school and college students, who set up camps at the Khwairamband Women’s Market in Imphal on Monday tried to march towards the Raj Bhavan along the BT Road on Tuesday but were stopped by security forces near the Congress Bhavan, India Today reported. The students are protesting, demanding action against those behind the recent drone and missile attacks, and calling for the protection of the state’s “territorial and administrative integrity”.
Tear gas shells were fired as student and women demonstrators 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 according to the report.
Manipur University students also staged a protest rally and burnt the effigy of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Notably, the Manipur government has clamped curfew in Imphal East and West districts and prohibitory orders under Section 163 (2) of BNSS in Thoubal in view of the student protests.
Meanwhile, Manipur University has postponed all exams scheduled for various undergraduate and postgraduate programs due to the current situation in Manipur. Students enrolled in the university can check the new exam schedule by visiting the official website, manipuruniv.ac.in.
The official notification reads: “This is to inform all concerned that, in light of the prevailing situation in Manipur State, all scheduled PG and UG examinations under Manipur University have been postponed until further notice. Please stay updated through official university channels for further announcements regarding the rescheduled examination dates. This is issued with the approval of the higher authority.”