Imphal/Guwahati
The Manipur government has issued a warning against the circulation of videos and images depicting violence and damage to properties in the State and said such dissemination will be dealt with severely and booked as per law.
“The State government views very seriously and with utmost sensitivity the reported spread of videos and images depicting violent activities, inflicting harm or injury to (any)body or damage to private and public properties through various social media platforms which may aggravate the law and order situation in the State,” the State government order stated.
“The state government after thorough examination of the matter has decided to restrain the act of spreading such videos and images as a positive step towards bringing normalcy in the state,” it said.
Anyone in possession of such videos or images can approach the nearest superintendent of police irrespective of jurisdiction and submit them for taking appropriate action, the order said.
Any person found violating the order will be booked and prosecuted under the law and provision of misuse of technology. They will be dealt with under the IPC and IT Act.
The order issued on Wednesday night came as videos and images of widespread violence went viral on social media platforms.
One such video shows two Meitei youths being shot at point blank and then being buried in a pit by a group of people speaking Kuki language. The location of the incident site and the place of the burial is, however, not known. Prior to that, another horrific video, said to be of May 4, surfaced on social media wherein the body of a tribal man is seen being set on fire in a trench.
The seven-second video was shared on several WhatsApp groups in Manipur last week. In the video, the man is reportedly seen in a black T-shirt and camouflage trousers, lying in a trench. While his face has been bludgeoned, the body is on fire. The State government has handed over the case to the CBI.
