Mobile internet services in Manipur have been shut down for three days on Monday after prohibitory orders were imposed in parts of Kamjong district after violent clashes took place between residents of two villages over disputed land, officials said.
The measures have been implemented after villagers of Kamjong in the homonymous district allegedly attacked the residents and torched houses in Chassad village.
Some Chassad village residents have been sheltered at a government camp, they said, without elaborating on whether anybody got injured in the attack.
Mobile internet services have been shut down to prevent if any disturbance of peace and public order in the state happens, it is important to take note of any anti-social elements tried to vitiate the atmosphere by circulating hate videos and images, according to an order issued by Special Secretary (Home) H Gyan Prakash.
“The order is issued to prevent any disturbance of peace and public order in the jurisdiction of the state of Manipur and shall be in force for the next three days and with immediate effect from the time this suspension order becomes operational,” it said.
“WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram are being used to share “hate video messages and images to incite the public”, the order said, adding that, “social media has also become a handy tool for rumour mongers and is being used extensively to incite the general public”.
“Unless the use of internet/mobile data is curbed temporarily, there is the likelihood of serious repercussions in the law and order and the possibilities of communal violence in the State,” the Home Department’s order said.
Read: Anti-CAA Protest: Internet suspended in Aligarh after Police and Protesters clash
Also Read: Assam flares up, curfew imposed, mobile internet suspended
