Internet ban in Manipur to be lifted from today: CM Biren Singh
Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Saturday announced that the internet ban will be lifted in the state from today.
Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh on Saturday announced that the internet ban will be lifted in the state from today. The state government had imposed a ban on internet services in some districts of the strife-torn state after the ethnic clashes first erupted on May 3. The government later lifted the ban partially, allowing broadband services to function with certain conditions.
“As a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of rumours and videos, photos, and messages, which might affect the law and order situation of the state, the state government imposed a ban on the internet. But from today onwards the internet ban will be lifted,” Singh told a press conference in Imphal.
The announcement comes a day after the government appealed to surrender all illegal weapons held by any person or groups across the state within a period of 15 days from September 22.
In a press release issued on Friday evening, the government said it is willing to take a considerate view of the persons submitting such illegal weapons within these 15 days.
“At the end of the 15 days, security forces, both the central and state will undertake a strong and comprehensive search operation all over the state to recover such weapons, and all persons associated with any illegal weapons will be dealt with severely, as per law,” the release said.
“There have been reports of extortion, threats and abduction by miscreants/groups using illegal weapons. This is a serious matter and the state government will take strong action against such miscreants/groups in any part of the state.”
The ethnic conflict has claimed 175 people to date, left more than 1,100 others injured, and thousands of people displaced. There were 5,172 arson cases, including the burning and vandalisation of 4,786 houses and 386 religious places during the four-month-old crisis. A total of 5,668 arms have been lost from across the state. So far security forces have successfully recovered 1,329 arms.
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