The state administration has been ordered by the Manipur High Court to operationalize mobile towers in all district headquarters that have not been impacted by ethnic conflict, on a trial basis. The directive follows the Manipur government’s decision to prolong the state’s ban on mobile internet use until November 8.
Chief Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Golmei Gaiphulshillu Kabui’s division bench ordered the state “to extend the services to areas” that were not touched by violence.
Additionally, the state was ordered by the court to post copies of all of the orders related to the suspension or reduction of mobile internet data services on its official website. November 9 is the day of the next compliance hearing for this subject. Mobile internet has been prohibited in Manipur since May 3, when ethnic hostilities started, with the exception of a few days in September.
The most recent action was taken when a crowd broke into a 1 Manipur Rifles camp here last week in an attempt to steal its armoury, forcing security guards to open fire. Concerns 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” led to the extension of the internet ban.
Ten districts in the northeastern state are impacted by the ethnic unrest. Additionally prohibited from May 4 for around two months, broadband connections have been largely restored since mid-July.
Since ethnic hostilities started in May, Manipur has been plagued by recurrent episodes of violence. Since then, almost 180 individuals have lost their lives.
The conflict sprang from a variety of complaints that both parties had against one another, but the attempt to drive away tribal members residing in protected forest regions and the decision to grant Meiteis Scheduled Tribe status—which has since been rescinded—were the main points of contention.
Meiteis make up around 53% of the population of Manipur and are mostly found in the Imphal Valley, while tribal people, such as the Nagas and Kukis, make up 40% of the population and are primarily found in the hill regions.
