Internet ban lifted in Manipur, state issues notice for the submission of illegal weapons within 15 days

Manipur Chief Minister, N Biren Singh, has announced that the internet ban across the state will be lifted from Saturday. The government had imposed a ban on internet services following the ethnic conflicts that had taken the state by storm since May 3. Later, the government partially lifted the ban, allowing broadband services to function under government-slated conditions

Addressing a press conference in Imphal on Saturday, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said, “As a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of rumors and videos, photos, and messages, which might affect the law and order situation of the state, the state government imposed a ban on the internet. But from today onwards the internet ban will be lifted.”

"Our government has requested the Union Home Ministry to cancel the free movement regime. Also, security forces have not properly guarded the border. Instead of being deployed at zero point, they were found guarding the border 14-15 km inside Indian territory," said the Manipur Chief Minister cracking down upon the free-movement regime, to curb the unwarranted influx of ‘illegal immigrants’ into the state. "We have to stay focused on real issues in the state, namely dealing with the influx of illegal immigrants, taking up welfare activities for internally displaced people, and fighting massive poppy cultivation," he added.

Harping on the immediate need for complete fencing along the India-Myanmar border, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said, "The Union Home Ministry has taken steps to fence 60 km of the international border in Manipur.”

The N Biren Singh Government expressed its commitment to mitigating the poppy cultivation racket in the hills, and the rise in drug and substance abuse across the state. He stated that their ‘War on Drugs’ that was launched in 2018, will continue with greater vigor and ‘it will be carried out more strongly to destroy poppy plantations in the hills.’

The lift on the internet ban comes a day after the government made an announcement that all individuals and groups in the state who possess illegal weapons must surrender them within 15 days from September 22. A press release issued by the Manipur Government on Friday reads, “There have been reports of extortion, threats and abduction by miscreants/groups using illegal weapons. This is a serious matter and the state government will take strong action against such miscreants/groups in any part of the state.” This comes as a request to maintain law and order in the state. The government has stated that it will be lenient towards those who comply with the request and surrender their illegal weapons within the given timeframe, and strict action will be taken against those who fail to comply with the Government notice. “At the end of the 15 days, security forces, both the central and state will undertake a strong and comprehensive search operation all over the state to recover such weapons, and all persons associated with any illegal weapons will be dealt with severely, as per law,” reads the release issued by the Manipur Government.

The ongoing ethnic conflict has resulted in the deaths of 175 people, and over 1,100 people have been injured. Additionally, thousands of individuals have been displaced as a result of the conflict. During the four-month crisis, there have been a staggering 5,172 cases of arson, which includes the burning and vandalization of 4,786 homes as well as 386 religious sites. Furthermore, 5,668 weapons have been reported missing across the state, but security forces have been able to successfully recover 1,329 of them.