The Indian Tribal
Guwahati/Imphal
The strife-torn northeastern State alarmingly stares at yet another flare-up following the first-of-its-kind drone and rocket attacks by Kuki militants and Meitei students and women protestors hitting the streets again, this time to demand the removal of the DGP and the security advisor to the Manipur government “for failing to control the violence”. They are also demanding action against those behind the recent drone and missile attacks.
On Tuesday, tear gas shells were fired as the student and women demonstrators clashed with security forces and pelted stones at them even while attempting to storm the Governor and Chief Minister’s residences.
Authorities clamped curfew from 11 am in Imphal East and West districts and imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 (2) of BNSS in Thoubal in view of the developing law and order situation. In an earlier order, the district magistrates of the two districts had announced relaxation of curfew in the respective districts from 5 am to 10 am on Tuesday. However, essential services, including media, electricity, court and health, are exempted from the curfew.
Hundreds of students, 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, officials said. Manipur University students also staged a protest rally and burnt the effigy of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
“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,” the Manipur Home Department statement said.
“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 services, 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 disinformation 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 stated further.
In the order, the Joint Secretary (Home), Government of Manipur said, “I hereby order temporary suspension/curbing of internet and mobile data services including Lease Lines, VSATs, Broadbands and VPN services in the territorial jurisdiction of the State of Manipur for five days.”
Since September 1, more than 10 persons have been killed in renewed violence that started with the drone and rocket attacks by Kuki militants, prompting Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and over 25 MLAs to submit a memorandum to the Governor with a list of demands.
Among others, handing over the control of the Unified Command that oversees security operations in the State bordering Myanmar tops the list of demands by the MLAs of the BJP and its allies. This, they contended, will ensure adequate powers and responsibilities to the elected state government as per the Constitution. The Unified Command oversees security operations in Manipur and is currently handled by a team of Union Home Ministry officials, the state security adviser and the Army.
Another key demand in the list is the scrapping of the tripartite Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement between the Centre, the Manipur government and Kuki insurgent groups. It will enable the security forces to revive and launch full-scale operations against Kuki insurgents. This was demanded earlier too by all the parties of the State.
Over 200 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Imphal Valley-based Meiteis and adjoining hills-based Kuki-Zo groups since May last year
