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Indian Express
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Internet snapped in 5 districts, curfew in Bishnupur amid protests over Meitei leader's ‘detention'
Internet services were suspended across all districts in Manipur's central valley following protests in capital Imphal Saturday night following reports of a Meitei outfit leader being apprehended by security forces. After an Arambai Tenggol leader was reportedly detained from Kwakeithel area in Imphal on Saturday evening, protesters torched tyres and blocked roads in different parts of Imphal city including the Tiddim road, Uripok in Imphal West district, demanding his immediate release. Confrontations between security forces and protesters were also reported at the Kwakeithel area, leaving multiple injured. In the early hours of Sunday, internet and mobile data services, including VSAT and VPN services, were suspended in the districts of Imphal East and West, Kakching, Thoubal and Bishnupur for a period of five days through an order issued by Manipur Home Commissioner N. Ashok Kumar. The order cites an apprehension that '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 which might have serious repercussions for the law and order situation in the state of Manipur'. Internet services were last snapped in these districts in Manipur in September last year after protests over a renewed escalation of violence in the state. Prohibitory orders under section 163 of the BNS were also imposed across the valley districts citing 'apprehension of serious breach of peace, disturbance to public tranquility, riot or affray in the area, and grave danger to human lives and properties due to unlawful activities of anti-social elements'. Total curfew was imposed in Bishnupur district, with effect from 11 pm of June 7.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Manipur government suspends Internet services for five days in five valley districts
The Manipur government has ordered suspension of Internet and mobile data services, including VSAT and VPN, in the territorial jurisdiction of five valley districts for five days with effect from 11.45 p.m. on Saturday (June 8, 2025), an official statement said. Also Read | Centre to resume talks with Kuki-Zo insurgents, says camps near Meitei areas must be closed before renegotiating SoO pact The districts include Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching. The order issued by Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Home), N. Ashok Kumar, said, 'In view of the prevailing law and order situation, especially in Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Kakching and Bishnupur districts, there is apprehension that some anti-social elements might use social media extensively for transmission of images, hate speech and hate video messages to incite the passion of the public, which might have serious repercussions on the law and order situation of the State.' 'The order is being passed ex-parte in view of the emergent situation. Any person found guilty of violating the order will be liable to face legal action,' it added. Also Read | Ban on movement of Kukis in Naga areas suspended The order followed widespread protests in Imphal East and Imphal West districts on Saturday night after the arrest of a leader of Meitei outfit Arambai Tenggol.
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
48-hour bandh affects normal life in Manipur's Imphal valley
The 48-hour state-wide bandh called by a Meitei organisation Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) in protest against the removal of the State's name from a government bus affected normal life in the five districts of Imphal Valley for the second day on Friday (May 23, 2025). All business establishments, educational institutions, government and private offices remained closed and public transport remained off the roads. Except for medical emergencies and those seeking to go to Ukhrul district to attend Shirui Lily festival, no other private vehicles are allowed to ply on the roads. Several women bandh supporters stopped vehicles of Central security forces in various parts of Bishnupur and Thoubal districts and pasted "Manipur/Kangleipak" on the windshields of security vehicles. Kangleipak is the ancient name of Manipur. On Friday (May 23, 2025) morning roadside vegetable vendors had opened their stalls at Andro Parking, Kongba and Khurai areas in Imphal East district but bandh supporters told them to close their stalls. Bandh supporters enforced the bandh at Uripok, Singjamei and Kwakeithel in Imphal West district. On Thursday (May 22, 2025) night bandh supporters staged a torch rally for 2 km and raised slogans stating "Manipur cannot be obliterated." Central forces personnel have been deployed at strategic places across all points leading to the Raj Bhavan. The Manipur Government on Wednesday (May 21, 2025) ordered a probe into the allegations that security personnel forced to cover the State's name on a bus taking journalists to the Shirui Lily festival. It was alleged that security forces had stopped the State-run bus, on which journalists were being taken by the government to cover the tourism festival in Ukhrul district on Tuesday (May 20, 2025), and forced the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) staffers to cover the State's name written on the windshield with a white paper. The government formed a two-member inquiry committee, and said that it will "examine facts and circumstances involving security personnel and Manipur State Road Transport Bus carrying media persons to cover the Manipur Shirui festival on May 20 near Gwaltabi checkpost," according to an order issued by the Home Department. "The Committee shall look into lapses, if any and suggest measures to prevent recurrence of such a situation in future," it said. The Committee, comprising Commissioner (Home) N. Ashok Kumar and Secretary Kirankumar Singh, has been asked to submit its report within 15 days, it added. Amid outrage over the incident, COCOMI called a 48-hour general strike from Wednesday (May 21, 2025) midnight, and demanded an apology from Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, and the resignation of Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, DGP Rajiv Singh and Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh. "The decision to have Manipur removed from a State bus itself is anti-Manipur, absolutely challenges the idea of Manipur and its historical and cultural identity," COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba said. "The people of Manipur demand to know under whose authority the decision was taken. It should be clarified to the public within 48 hours," he added. The Shirui Lily festival is being held after a gap of two years as the State, ravaged by ethnic clashes between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo community, limps back to normalcy amid the President's Rule, which was imposed in February following the resignation of N. Biren Singh as the Chief Minister.
Economic Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Manipur valley hit by shutdown over bus signage row; inquiry launched, journalists protest
The 48-hour state-wide shutdown, called by Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) in protest against the removal of the state's name from a government bus on Tuesday affected normal life in five to six districts of Manipur's valley region on Thursday. A senior police official said that most markets, shops, business establishments, educational institutions, and government and private offices were closed, and public transport remained off the roads in the valley region, inhabited by the Meitei community. COCOMI supporters came out on the streets to enforce the shutdown, and they urged the people to remain inside their homes. The bandh supporters also burned tyres on the roads at different places in the state capital, official said that so far, there has been no major incident in connection with the per the call of the COCOMI, the shutdown started on Wednesday midnight, and it had almost no effect in Kuki and Naga-dominated hill areas. The state government has deployed a huge contingent of central and state forces to prevent any untoward incident relating to the shutdown.A media team, en route to cover the opening ceremony of the five-day-long Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul district on Tuesday, was returned to Imphal, allegedly after some security personnel blocked their bus at Gwaltabi in Imphal East district and covered the Manipur from the state run bus in the windshield. The All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU) and the Editors Guild Manipur (EGM), in a joint letter to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Tuesday, said that the security personnel instructed the media team to hide the "Manipur State Transport Corporation" signage on the front of the bus carrying 20 journalists and some Information Department strongly, the AMWJU and the EGM organised a 'pen down' protest on Wednesday against the "disrespectful behaviour" by the security personnel towards the press and the people of Manipur government on Wednesday constituted a two-member inquiry committee to probe the issue. The committee, comprising Commissioner, Home, N. Ashok Kumar, and Information Technology Secretary Th. Kirankumar Singh, would submit their report within 15 days. COCOMI Convenor Khuraijam Athouba demanded a formal apology from Governor leading Meitei community body also called for the immediate resignation of Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, Chief Secretary and Director General of Police Rajiv Singh, holding them responsible for failing to protect the dignity and integrity of the state of Congress, its Lok Sabha member Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, BJP's Rajya Sabha member from Manipur Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba, former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and many other leaders and organisations protested the view of the 5-day long (May 20 to 24) Shirui Lily Festival, the Manipur government has taken huge security measures after reported threats by some individuals and organisations to the Meitei community against entering Kuki tribal-dominated areas during the festival.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Manipur valley hit by shutdown over bus signage row; inquiry launched, journalists protest
The 48-hour state-wide shutdown, called by Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) in protest against the removal of the state's name from a government bus on Tuesday affected normal life in five to six districts of Manipur's valley region on Thursday. A senior police official said that most markets, shops, business establishments, educational institutions, and government and private offices were closed, and public transport remained off the roads in the valley region, inhabited by the Meitei community . COCOMI supporters came out on the streets to enforce the shutdown, and they urged the people to remain inside their homes. The bandh supporters also burned tyres on the roads at different places in the state capital, Imphal. The official said that so far, there has been no major incident in connection with the bandh. As per the call of the COCOMI, the shutdown started on Wednesday midnight, and it had almost no effect in Kuki and Naga-dominated hill areas. The state government has deployed a huge contingent of central and state forces to prevent any untoward incident relating to the shutdown. A media team, en route to cover the opening ceremony of the five-day-long Shirui Lily Festival in Ukhrul district on Tuesday, was returned to Imphal, allegedly after some security personnel blocked their bus at Gwaltabi in Imphal East district and covered the Manipur from the state run bus in the windshield. The All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU) and the Editors Guild Manipur (EGM), in a joint letter to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla on Tuesday, said that the security personnel instructed the media team to hide the " Manipur State Transport Corporation" signage on the front of the bus carrying 20 journalists and some Information Department officials. Reacting strongly, the AMWJU and the EGM organised a 'pen down' protest on Wednesday against the "disrespectful behaviour" by the security personnel towards the press and the people of Manipur. The Manipur government on Wednesday constituted a two-member inquiry committee to probe the issue. The committee, comprising Commissioner, Home, N. Ashok Kumar, and Information Technology Secretary Th. Kirankumar Singh, would submit their report within 15 days. COCOMI Convenor Khuraijam Athouba demanded a formal apology from Governor Bhalla. The leading Meitei community body also called for the immediate resignation of Security Advisor Kuldiep Singh, Chief Secretary and Director General of Police Rajiv Singh, holding them responsible for failing to protect the dignity and integrity of the state of Manipur. Opposition Congress, its Lok Sabha member Angomcha Bimol Akoijam, BJP's Rajya Sabha member from Manipur Maharaja Sanajaoba Leishemba, former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and many other leaders and organisations protested the incident. In view of the 5-day long (May 20 to 24) Shirui Lily Festival, the Manipur government has taken huge security measures after reported threats by some individuals and organisations to the Meitei community against entering Kuki tribal-dominated areas during the festival.
