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Journalism of Courage
The Manipur Government shut down mobile data services in Churachandpur and Pherzawl districts for five days with immediate effect from Friday after a mob set on fire an open gym facility that was to be inaugurated by Chief Minister N Biren Singh. The authorities also clamped section 144 in the district headquarters of Churachandpur until further orders.
Speaking on Friday, the chief minister promised to act against the perpetrators of violence. “We will take action,” he told ANI.
An order issued by the state Home Department said mobile data services were suspended to maintain the law and order situation by curbing the spread of misinformation on social media platforms.
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— ANI (@ANI) April 28, 2023
“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 the public interest, by stopping disinformation and rumours through various social media platforms,” the order read.
An official source said the violence that occurred on Thursday night was carried out by volunteers and supporters of the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF). The forum had called for an eight-hour total shutdown in Churachandpur in protest against the land and forest survey carried out by the state government. The shutdown came into effect at 8 am on Friday. It had also announced non-cooperation with government programmes in the districts.
The ITLF, in a statement, said it was compelled to take up the agitation following the failure of the state to address the grievances of the people of the districts. “ITLF had submitted several memoranda to the government of Manipur to voice our grievances and apprehensions about the survey carried out by the state pertaining to Reserved Forest/Protected forest and wetland and eviction of villagers. Even after repeated memoranda, the government has shown no signs of willingness, no sincerity to address the plight of the people,” it said.
While the shutdown had begun, there was no report of any untoward incident till the time of filing this report
