Internet restored in Imphal valley after weeks of suspension

Manipur government restored mobile internet and broadband services in five Imphal Valley districts after reviewing improved law and order following a bomb attack in Bishnupur suspension had caused widespread disruption while security operations, protests and investigations continue across the state

Imphal: With an improvement in the law and order situation, the Manipur government on Saturday revoked the suspension of mobile internet and data services, including broadband, across five Imphal Valley districts, officials said.​

The suspension of mobile internet and data services was initially imposed for three days, hours after a deadly bomb attack in Bishnupur district on April 7. The attack, allegedly carried out by suspected Kuki militants, claimed the lives of two children and left their mother injured.​

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Since then, the restrictions have been extended in several phases, typically for two days at a time, across the five Imphal Valley districts, Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Kakching, and Bishnupur. The measure was aimed at preventing any escalation of violence.​

Manipur Home Department Joint Secretary Mayengbam Veto Singh, in a notification issued on Saturday, said that the state government reviewed the prevailing situation, including the inconveniences and suffering faced by the public due to the internet ban, which had affected the functioning of important offices and institutions.​

According to the notification, the affected institutions and organisations included High Courts and District Courts, people working from home, chartered accountancy firms, lawyers, health facilities, refuelling centres, electricity and mobile recharge services, liquefied petroleum gas booking services, educational institutions, taxation offices, and other online citizen-centric services.​

“…the Governor of Manipur is pleased to order revocation of any temporary suspension of mobile internet services/mobile data services, including virtual private network services, in the territorial jurisdiction of the five districts of Manipur, Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Kakching and Bishnupur, in public interest with immediate effect,” Singh said in the notification.​

Meanwhile, following the April 7 bomb attack in Bishnupur district, thousands of people, including a large number of women and members of various civil society organisations, have been holding intermittent protest rallies across the Imphal Valley districts. ​

Protesters have strongly condemned the attack and are demanding strict punishment for those responsible.​

The Manipur government has already handed over the investigation into the deadly incident to the National Investigation Agency. ​

A Manipur Police statement said that security forces continue to conduct search operations and area domination exercises in fringe and vulnerable areas across districts.​

The movement of 174 vehicles carrying essential items along the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway-37 has been ensured. ​

Strict security measures have been implemented in all vulnerable locations, and security convoys are being provided in sensitive stretches to ensure the free and safe movement of vehicles.​

A total of 114 checkpoints have been set up across different districts of Manipur, both in the hills and the valley, and 38 persons have been detained for curfew violations.​