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Curfew imposed in Manipur amid unrest

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Curfew Manipur
Curfew Manipur

The Manipur government has restored broadband internet access in five valley districts, three days after suspending both mobile and broadband services due to student protests in the state capital, Imphal. However, mobile data services continue to remain blocked. The valley districts where broadband has been restored include Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur, and Kakching.

The internet ban was initially imposed to curb the spread of fake and inflammatory content on social media, following last week’s “drone attacks” and subsequent protests. Although the ban was intended to last five days, it has now been partially lifted with only broadband services resuming. The internet restrictions do not apply to the hill districts, home to many villages of the Kuki tribes.

These regions contrast sharply with the Meitei-dominated valley.

The ongoing clashes between the Meitei community and the Kuki tribes, a term coined during British colonial rule, have led to over 220 deaths and the internal displacement of nearly 50,000 people. The Meitei community, which belongs to the general category, is seeking inclusion under the Scheduled Tribes category.

Meanwhile, the Kukis, who have ethnic ties to Myanmar’s Chin State and Mizoram, are demanding separate administrative arrangements in Manipur, citing longstanding discrimination and an unequal distribution of resources and power. The situation continues to evolve, with broadband internet service now partially restored in select areas, while mobile data access remains a contentious issue. More than a year after initial tensions, deadly ethnic violence has resurged this month in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur.

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The local authorities have reimposed a curfew and an internet blackout as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government struggles to quell the unrest. The conflict, which started in May 2023, was ignited by tensions between the Meitei and the Kuki communities over the Meitei’s claim to receive a special status guaranteeing allotment of government jobs and the right to buy land. More than 200 people have been reported killed and at least 60,000 displaced in the unrest.

After pitched violence broke out, with villages burned and reports of sexual assaults widespread, the Indian Army moved in and effectively partitioned the state between the two groups. During India’s general election this spring, opposition politicians criticized the government for saying little about the Manipur unrest and not doing enough to stop it. Mr.

Modi has stood by the state’s chief minister, N. Biren Singh, a member of his Bharatiya Janata Party.

Internet partially restored amid violence

Critics of Mr. Singh, who is part of the majority Meitei community, say he has exacerbated the violence with his partisan statements and handling of the conflict. While the violence had subsided over the past few months, it came roaring back in recent weeks, with 11 people — eight Kukis and three Meiteis — killed in attacks, according to data collected by Kuki and Meitei organizations.

The Manipur police reported renewed hostilities, accusing Kuki militants of using drones and long-range rockets against civilians and security forces. Authorities in India’s northeastern state of Manipur have imposed an indefinite curfew and blocked internet access following student protests against a new wave of ethnic violence that has rocked the region for more than a year. On Tuesday, a notice from the state’s Home Ministry ordered all internet and mobile data services to be shut off for five days to bring the latest unrest under control.

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“Some anti-social elements might use social media extensively for transmission of images, hate speech and hate video messages inciting the passions of the public,” the notice said. A curfew was imposed in three districts of Manipur while the state government said that internet and mobile data services would be suspended until Sunday to curb misinformation and hate speech that could trigger more violence. Manipur, a restive state of 3.2 million people tucked in the mountains on India’s border with Myanmar, has experienced periodic violence for more than a year.

The conflict has largely been driven by clashes between the predominantly Hindu-majority Meitei community and Kuki ethnic groups over economic benefits and government jobs and education quotas. Despite a heavy army presence, the deadly clashes have persisted. In the last 10 days, at least nine people have been killed and several injured as armed groups launched drone attacks and rockets from homemade devices.

Hundreds of Meitei in the state capital, Imphal, defied a curfew imposed earlier on Tuesday to demand that security forces take action against Kuki fighting groups, whom they blame for the latest spate of attacks. Student-led protests on Monday turned violent after the crowd threw stones and plastic bottles at security forces, police said in a statement, adding that protesters in another district snatched arms from police and fired at them. On Tuesday, police lobbed tear gas at hundreds of students who attempted to march towards the Manipur governor’s house and demanded the restoration of peace in the state.

Students say they are frustrated with the government’s failure to resolve the 16-month-long conflict. About 250 people have been killed and tens of thousands displaced after mobs rampaged through villages and torched houses since last May. Student leader Ch Victor Singh said that protesters gave Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya 24 hours to respond to a list of demands, which includes the removal of the top police official in the state and the security adviser for their failure to control the violence, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.

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“We urge the students to engage in peaceful marches or protests and follow the law,” said IK Muivah, a senior police officer in Imphal. He said police were investigating the recent attacks.

Johannah Lopez is a versatile professional who seamlessly navigates two worlds. By day, she excels as a SaaS freelance writer, crafting informative and persuasive content for tech companies. By night, she showcases her vibrant personality and customer service skills as a part-time bartender. Johannah's ability to blend her writing expertise with her social finesse makes her a well-rounded and engaging storyteller in any setting.

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