Manipur government on Sunday further extended the internet ban in the violence-hit state till June 30 even as Chief Minister N. Biren Singh asserted that the administration has been able to control the violence to a "great extent". Singh, who arrived in the national capital this morning, met Home Minister Amit Shah and briefed him about the “evolving situation” situation in the state.
The internet ban has been extended till 3 pm on June 30 to "prevent any disturbances of peace and public order”, said an official release. It further informed that the ban was extended due to the "persisting unrest".
"There is apprehension that some anti-social elements might use social media extensively for the transmission of images, hate speech and hate video messages inciting the passions of the public which might have serious repercussions for the law and offer situation in the State of Manipur," it said.
The state government suspended internet for the first time on May 3 and since then this is the third time the suspension has been extended.
After his meeting with Shah in Delhi, the chief minister said that the home minister has assured him that the central government will take all possible steps to bring back normalcy in Manipur.
He also noted that there has been no report of casualties since June 13 due to the violence.
The meeting came a day after Shah chaired an all-party meeting over the situation in Manipur. Eighteen political parties, four MPs from the northeast and two chief ministers from the region attended the three-hour-long meeting.
The Manipur police on Saturday said that the situation was normal in most of the districts even as some sporadic incidents have been reported in some districts.
Curfew has been relaxed for 12 to 15 hours in five valley districts, Pherzawl and Jiribam districts, eight to ten hours in Tengnoupal, Churachandpur and Kangpokpi districts and no curfew in the remaining six Hill Districts, the police said in a statement.
Violent clashes broke out in Manipur after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Nearly 120 people lost their lives and over 3,000 have been injured so far.