Manipur: Internet ban extended for another five days

Digital Desk: Manipur government has extended the ban on the internet in the violence-stricken state for another five days. The internet ban in Manipur, which was initially scheduled to end on October 1, has now been extended till October 6.

The official statement described the decision to proceed with instances of mob violence. “There are still reports of incidents of violence like confrontation of the public with security forces, trying to mob elected member's residences, civil protests in front of police stations" the report mentioned. 

The Central Bureau of Investigation has detained four suspects for the "kidnapping and killing" of two Meitei adolescents who had gone missing in July, Chief Minister N Biren Singh stated earlier in the day.

According to Singh, the four people—including the main accused's wife—were taken "outside the state" by a special flight.

On September 29 of last week, it was reported that following a night of violent fighting, including an attempt to attack the vacant ancestral home of Chief Minister N Biren Singh in this area, the situation in Manipur's Imphal valley was peaceful but tense.

To make it easier to purchase necessities and medications, authorities relaxed the curfew in Imphal East and Imphal West districts from 5 am to 11 am.

 

On Tuesday of last week, another bout of violence erupted in the state capital, a day after images of the remains of a boy and a girl who had gone missing in July went viral on social media.

Since the ethnic confrontations began in Manipur on May 3, when a "Tribal Solidarity March" was arranged in the hill regions to oppose the Meitei community's desire for Scheduled Tribe (ST) designation, more than 180 people have died and hundreds have been injured. The majority of Meiteis, who make up around 53% of Manipur's population, reside in the Imphal Valley. A little over 40% of the population are tribal people, mostly Nagas and Kukis, who live in the hill districts.