Mobile Internet Ban Extended Till Nov 13 In Manipur Barring Few Areas

The ban, however, will not be enforced in the four hill district head💖quarters which have not been affected by ethnic strife, officials added.

The state government said the decision to extend the ban was taken "as there is apprehension that anti-social elements might use social media ext🥃ensively for transmission of images, hate speeches and video messages inciting the passions of the public which might have serious repercussions for the law and or💖der situation in the state."

A home department order said, "There is imminent danger of loss of life and/or damage to public private property and widesprea🍸d disturbances to public tranquility and communal harmony, as a result of inflammatory material and rumours, which might be transmitted/circulated to the public through social media."

"To thwart the designs of anti-national and anti-social elements and to maintain peace and communal harmony, it has become necessary𝓀💦 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 platforms," the order added.

The order also said, "the state government had already opened few mobile towers in few district headquarters which had not been affected by violence ཧin the first instance and is considering to open and operationalise more mobile ꧒towers in other district headquarters on a trial basis."

On Tuesday, the Manipur government lifted mobile internet ban in the district headquarters of Ukhrul, Senapati, Chandel and Tamenglong, wh🐭ich are Naga-majority areas, on a temporary basis.

The step was taken after the Manipur High Court♛ directed the state government to operationalise mobile towers, on a trial basis,♌ in all those district headquarters which have not been affected by the ethnic clashes.

Barring a few days in September, mobile🐼 internet has remained banned in Manipur since ไMay 3 when ethnic clashes broke out.

-With PTI input