Ban On Internet Services In Manipur Lifted From Today

Imphal (Manipur) [India]: After more than four and a half months, mobile internet was restored in Manipur on Saturday.

The services were suspended on May 3 in the wake of ethnic violence in the state.
The state’s home department, in an order, said, “…the Governor of Manipur is pleased to revoke all orders issued regarding the suspension of mobile data services…and hereby, orders the restoration of MMS over mobile service providers/mobile internet/data services in the territorial jurisdiction of Manipur normally with effect from 23-09-2023.”

Earlier in the day, Chief Minister N Biren Singh announced the restoration of mobile internet services.

Addressing a press conference in the state capital, Singh said, “From today onwards, internet services will be opened for the public in Manipur”.

He also said that the Free Movement Regime (FMR) agreement, signed between the governments of India and Myanmar, has remained “closed”.

Earlier, in July, the Manipur government announced the conditional restoration of broadband services in the state. Mobile internet services, however, remained suspended in view of the violence the state was undergoing.

Manipur has been witnessing violence since May 3, following the protests by the Kuki and Meitei communities against the High Court’s order asking the state government to consider the inclusion of the Meitei community in the category of Scheduled Tribes (ST).

The majority Meitei community, which occupies the Imphal Valley and nearby areas, sought the ST status keeping in view their increasing population and increased requirement of land so that they could purchase lands in the hilly areas.