Manipur HC asks state to lift internet ban in peaceful areas

The Manipur High Court has asked the state government to restore internet services in all the districts that have not been affected by the ethnic clashes on a trial basis. The direction comes after the Manipur government extended the mobile internet ban in the state till November 8. The division bench comprising Chief Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Golmei Gaiphulshillu Kabui in an order asked the state government “to extend the services to areas” which were unaffected by violence. The court has also asked the Biren Singh-led government to publish all the orders related to internet curbs on its official website. The next hearing for compliance of the matter has been scheduled for November 9. Barring a few days in September, mobile internet has remained banned in Manipur since May 3 when ethnic clashes broke out. Last week, a mob attacked a camp of 1 Manipur Rifles in Imphal to loot its armoury. The internet ban was extended following 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”. Manipur has remained gripped by recurring bouts of violence since ethnic clashes first erupted in May. More than 180 people have been killed since then. The clashes have occurred over several grievances that both sides have against the other, however, the flashpoint of the crisis has been a move to give Meiteis Scheduled Tribe status, which has since been rolled back and an attempt to turf out tribals living in protected forest areas. With inputs from PTI