Manipur Govt Lifts Ban On Broadband, Mobile Internet To Remain Suspended Till Further Order

Imphal: The Manipur government has ordered the restoration of the internet via broadband connections in as many as five districts, however, the government clearly stated that access to the internet via mobile data will continue to remain suspended till further orders. The fresh development came up three days after the Manipur government ordered snapping of mobile and broadband internet amidst protests by students in the state capital city Imphal.

In an order today, the state government said access to the internet via mobile data continues to remain blocked. The five valley districts are Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching.

The government stated that the ban meant to prevent the spread of fake and concocted social media posts following last week's "drone attacks" and subsequent protests was supposed to stay for five days. It has been partially lifted now, with broadband access enabled.

However, the internet ban is not applicable in the hill districts.

There are many villages of the Kuki tribes in the hills surrounding the Meitei-dominated valley. The clashes between the Meitei community and the nearly two dozen tribes known as Kukis - a term given by the British in colonial times - who are dominant in some hill areas of Manipur , has killed over 220 people and internally displaced nearly 50,000.

The general category Meiteis want to be included under the Scheduled Tribes category, while the Kukis who share ethnic ties with people in neighbouring Myanmar's Chin State and Mizoram want a separate administration carved out of Manipur , citing discrimination and unequal share of resources and power with the Meiteis.