Broadband internet resumed in five valley districts of Manipur state, India. The service has been restored in the capital city of Imphal three days after it was shut down due to student protests. But mobile data is still off.
Indian media India Today reported this information in a report on Thursday (September 12).
The Manipur government has re-introduced broadband internet services in five valley districts three days after suspension of mobile and broadband internet services due to protests in Imphal, reports said. However, the ban on mobile data usage remains in place.
The five districts where internet services have been resumed are – Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching. Restrictions on the internet were initially imposed to prevent the spread of social media posts containing false information about the alleged drone strikes and subsequent protests in the region.
The ban, which was originally set for five days, has now been partially relaxed. However, mobile data services are still suspended.
Tensions between the valley-dwelling Meiti community and the Kuki tribe, which dominates the highlands, have risen over the past few months, according to media reports. As a result of which there was a violent clash between them. More than 220 people have lost their lives and nearly 50,000 have been displaced due to the ongoing 16-month conflict.
Apart from this, 11 people have been killed so far in the renewed conflict.
Meanwhile, India has decided to deploy members of the country’s Central Paramilitary Force (CRPF) to deal with the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur. Days after two battalions of the Assam Rifles were withdrawn from Manipur, the central government decided to deploy two battalions of 2,000 CRPF personnel in the violence-torn state.
Besides, the Union Home Ministry of the Indian country has ordered all the companies of these two new CRPF units to set up bases in different parts of Manipur. Each unit has five to six companies. There are about 2,000 CRPF jawans and officers in the two battalions.
