SC Declines Urgent Hearing On Plea Against Internet Ban In Crisis-Hit Manipur

The Supreme Court has declined to accord urgent hearing on a plea against the internet ban in crisis-hit Manipur.

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to accord an urgent hearing on a plea by two Manipur residents against the repeated internet shutdowns in the state which saw ethnic clashes and violence, as it slowly returns to normalcy and as an effort to ensure peace is underway. A vacation bench of justices Aniruddha Bose and Rajesh Bindal said the high court is already seized of a similar issue. "The HC is hearing the matter. What's the need to duplicate proceedings? Mention before the regular bench," it said.

The plea said the shutdown was "grossly disproportionate" in its interference with the constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression, and the right to carry on any trade or business using the constitutionally protected medium of the internet.

Advocate Shadan Farasat mentioned the matter before the bench seeking an urgent hearing. The top court was hearing a plea filed by Chongtham Victor Singh and Mayengbam James.

The Manipur government on Tuesday extended the ban on internet services till June 10.

The suspension of mobile data services, including broadband, has been extended till 3 pm on June 10, an order issued by Commissioner (Home) H Gyan Prakash said. The ban was imposed on May 3.

Security Forces Recover 35 Weapons, Warlike Stores In Manipur During Combing Operations

The security forces in strife-torn Manipur have recovered at least 35 weapons and warlike stores during joint combing operations amid spurts of violence and in the wake of ethnic clashes in the state. Domination of the arterial national highway 37, connecting capital Imphal with Assam and other parts of the country, was carried out to ensure free movement of essential goods to and from Manipur as part of the operations, he said. Stating that 35 weapons of different types, ammunition, and warlike stores were recovered on the second day of joint combing operations on Thursday in the hills and valley sector, an official told PTI that the security forces are adopting confidence-building measures and a people-centric approach to alleviating the hardships of the people, affected by the month-long ethnic strife in the northeastern state.

On the first day of the joint combing operations, the security forces had recovered 29 weapons, mostly automatic, mortar, hand grenades, small arms, ammunition, and warlike stores. He said that magistrates were present during combing operations in non-AFSPA areas.

Violence broke out in the northeastern state on May 3 when people from the Meitei community and the Kuki tribe clashed with each other over the Meiteis’ demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.