Wednesday, Sep 11, 2024 08:45 [IST]
Last Update: Wednesday, Sep 11, 2024 03:12 [IST]
IMPHAL, (IANS): Defying the curfew, over a thousand students staged protests in
Imphal for the second day on Tuesday even as security forces lobbed tear gas
shells and fired in the air to disperse the protesters, while the Manipur
government banned mobile internet for five days to prevent spreading of fake
and concocted posts, photos, and videos.
The students, who staged a demonstration in front of the
Chief Minister's Secretariat and Raj Bhavan on Monday to protest the rising
violence in the state, remained gathered overnight in the all-women Ima Market
(also known as the Nupi Keithel) and locked themselves on its first floor as
the market remained closed on Tuesday due to the reimposition of the curfew.
Rejecting the persuasion of the senior police officers to
return to their homes, the agitated students on Tuesday organised protests in
front of the Manipur University even as the security personnel, deployed in
large numbers, tried to disperse them.
Tension prevailed in Imphal city and adjoining areas, due
to the protests and the security forces' response.
Authorities earlier on Tuesday reimposed curfew in three
districts -- Imphal East, Imphal West and Thoubal -- after apprehending fresh
trouble in the capital city and the adjoining areas.
A senior Home Department official said that due to the
developing law and order situation in the three districts, the curfew was
reimposed from 11 a.m. and the security forces have further tightened the vigil
and searches. Search operations are going on in different places to locate any
kind of inimical object or attempt or to find out any troublemakers.
"We urge all concerned people to maintain peace and
refrain from any troubles or violation of law and order. We already asked the
people not to heed any unfounded social media posts, photos and videos. Strict
action would be taken against those who violate the law and disturb the peace
and ethnic harmony," the official told the media.
Imposing the mobile internet ban for five days till
September 15, Joint Secretary, Home, Mayengbam Veto Singh, in his order, said
that to thwart the design and activities of anti-national and anti-social
elements and to maintain peace and communal harmony and to prevent any loss of
life or danger to public/private property, it has become necessary to take
adequate measures to maintain law and order in public interest, by stopping the
spread of disinformation and false rumours, through various social media platforms.
".....temporary suspension imposed curbing of
internet and mobile data services including Lease Lines, VSATs, Broadbands and
VPN services in the territorial jurisdiction of the state of Manipur for five
days with effect from 3 p.m. of September 10 till 3 p.m. of September 15
subject to confirmation by the competent authority within 24 hours except for
those cases whereby state government has exempted and allowed for
whitelisting," the order read.
Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya expressed his deep
concern in the wake of the sudden spurt of violence.
The Governor, in a statement, said that violence is not
the solution to any problem, and everyone will have to contribute and find ways
to overcome this problem.
"In his bid to restore peace and normalcy with the
help of the public, the Governor is constantly speaking to public leaders,
students and the people in general. Moreover, dedicated efforts are being made
for establishing peace by the security agencies. In view of the present
situation, the Governor has appealed to all sections of the society, student
organisations and public leaders to work together to establish peace and help
Manipur to scale a new height of growth and development," a Raj Bhavan
statement said.
The students from various schools and colleges staged
demonstrations on Monday to protest against the rising violence, protect
territorial integrity, and demand the handing over of the Unified Command to
the state government to deal with the militant outfits and armed cadres.
Wearing their school and college uniforms, the protesters
were heard raising slogans like "Long Live Manipur", "Resign all
incompetent MLAs", and "Give Unified Command charge to the state
government". They also expressed their anger against the administration
and various authorities for "inept handling of the situation of the
state".
The student leaders also on Monday separately met Chief
Minister N. Biren Singh and urged him to take steps for the immediate
restoration of peace and normalcy. They also demanded the withdrawal of
additional Central forces deployed to manage the ongoing ethnic violence,
citing their "failure to restore peace despite the conflict persisting for
over a year and a half".
Their anger was directed at both the Central and state
governments, holding them responsible for failing to resolve the ethnic crisis
of the state.
Since September 1, the violence escalated in the
trouble-torn state, leaving at least 12 people, including two women, elderly
persons and a retired soldier, dead and injuring over 20 people, by suspected
militants and armed cadres in different districts. Of the 12 deaths, six people
alone were killed in Jiribam district, adjoining southern Assam.
Combined security forces comprising Assam Rifles, Central
Armed Police Forces and Manipur Police commandos, also intensified their
counter-insurgency operations across the state to nab the militants and recover
arms and ammunition.