Violence in Manipur has been going on for a few months and as a control measure, internet services had been suspended in the state. Manipur CM N Biren Singh has announced that the ban is lifted and the public will be able to use the internet services from today itself.
New Delhi: Manipur has been on ‘fire’ literally and metaphorically for the last few months due to the clash between the two tribes- Kukis and Meiteis. Due to the severe violence in the state, the government, as a precautionary and protective measure, had suspended internet services in Manipur. The Chief Minister of Manipur, N Biren Singh has announced that the internet services in the state, that had been suspended since May 2023, due to the violence, are now being opened for the public from today itself. The Chief Minister has also said that the surveillance in the state will continue till the situation is not completely normal but the ban on the internet services has been lifted.
Internet Services Reinstated, Announces Manipur CM
As mentioned above, the suspended internet services in Manipur have been reinstated and the citizens of the state will be able to use these services from today itself. This announcement has been made by the Chief Minister of Manipur, N Biren Singh. Manipur CM, in a press conference, has said that the surveillance in the state will continue but the internet ban used as a precautionary measure to prevent unwanted incidents, will be lifted and the services will be available for the citizens from today.
Manipur Violence Going On Since May 2023
Manipur has been witnessing ethnic clashes since May 3 between majority the Meiteis, concentrated in Imphal valley, and the Kukis, occupying the hills. Over 160 people have been killed in the violence so far. The violence in the state escalated when a disconcerting video emerged on July 19 showing two women, reportedly belonging to the Kuki-Zo tribe, being paraded naked on the road by a group of men. The purported video was reportedly shot on May 4 and one of the women was allegedly gang-raped in a nearby paddy field. This was followed by a similar incident. According to reports, in the second incident, the two women who worked at a carwash in Imphal were raped and murdered on May 4, same day when two other women were stripped naked and paraded on roads on the other side of the north-eastern state.
The two victims, aged 21 and 24, were residents of Kangpokpi district of Manipur and used to work at a carwash facility in state capital Imphal, India Today reported. On the fateful day of May 4, they were allegedly abducted from their workplace by a mob, gangraped and then killed, the report said.
According to the report, the mother of one of the victims lodged a complaint on May 5 at the Saikul Police Station, but the cops registered the FIR after nearly two weeks on May 16.