Manipur students’ protests hasten internet blackout, curfew

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Manipur police clash with student protestors

By Raisina Correspondent

New Delhi, September 10: The police in Imphal resorted to teargas amid rampaging students’ protests. The government clamped internet blackout in all the five districts of Manipur.

The students of the Imphal University occupied key installations, leading to police action. The students are reportedly protesting the use of drone and rockets by the Kuki militants in the Meitei dominated regions of Manipur.

“In view of the prevailing law and order situation, internet and mobile data services including Lease Lines, VSATs, Broadbands and VPN services have temporarily been suspended/curbed for five days in Manipur,” said the state government.

Also Read: Amid Manipur violence, India to scarp free movement of people from Myanmar

The students intensified protests amid the police stating that tails of “sophisticated rockets were recovered”. The police were sharing details on the recent drone attacks in Manipur.

Deccan Chronicle in a report said that the student protests are demanding sacking of the director general of police as well as security advisor to the state government. The protests claimed that the top security officials failed to stop the sophisticated attacks in Manipur.

The Manipur Police on Tuesday were seen rebutting claims of retired security officials who had trashed reports of drone attacks in the state. Lt. Gen P C Nair, who retired as DG of Assam Rifles, had told media that there had been no use of drones or rockets in the attacks in Manipur.

Also Read: Military Rule in Myanmar fueled Manipur unrest, says Amit Shah

The Congress hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre for a fresh measure of internet shutdown in Manipur. “The Supreme Court has declared that there is a breakdown of the Constitutional machinery in the state. Yet Mr. Narendra Modi is unmoved. He travels all over the globe engaging in huglomacy, but cannot find the time or the inclination to visit the state since the tragedy began unfolding there on May 3, 2023,” said Jairam Ramesh, the communication department chief of the Congress.

Democracy is a tall order – the rule of law itself has fallen apart in the state, Ramesh alleged.

Ch. Victor Singh, student leader, said that six demands have been raised with the Manipur Governor. Local reports said that the student protestors set up camps in Manipur bazar. They were helped by the women shopkeepers in the area.

PTI quoted a social activist Rohan Philem, saying that “15-20 students have been injured and one student died at the hospital premises”.

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