The Manipur government has extended the ban on mobile internet services in the strife-torn northeastern state till November 8, after a recent incident of violence in which a mob attacked the camp of 1 Manipur Rifles in an attempt to loor its armoury, officials said. The security personnel also fired several rounds in the air to disperse the crowd. The incident took place last Wednesday. Mobile internet has remained banned in the state since ethnic clashes broke out on May 3 with a few days of relaxation in September.
An order by the government said the ban was extended after "apprehensions that anti-social elements might use social media extensively for transmission of images, hate speeches and hate video messages, inciting the passions of the public which might have serious repercussions for the law and order situation in the state".
The order issued by Commissioner (Home) T Ranjit Singh also noted the presence of "elements of imminent danger of loss of life and/or damage to public-private property... as a result of inflammatory material and false rumours which might be transmitted/circulated to the public through social media... in the context of the recent incidents of violence in some parts of the state".
Prior to this, a police official was killed in a sniper attack by suspected tribal militants in the states's Tengnoupal district last week, following which tension gripped the state which was trying to limp back to normalcy.
Following the incident the Manipur government declared the World Kuki-Zo Intellectual Council (WKZIC) a banned group under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, news agency PTI reported.
Over 180 people have lost their lives while hundreds have been injured since the ethnic clashes broke out in the state on May 3 during a 'Tribal Solidarity March' which was orgnaised to protest against the demand of the majority Meitei community for Scheduled Tribe status.