Manipur violence live updates: The Internet ban was back in Manipur and schools shut for the next three days as 50 students sustained injuries in Imphal after protests against the alleged abduction and murder of two students went out of hand, forcing authorities to rain batons on higher secondary students and lob tear gas shells.
The first such Manipur violence, involving students in uniform, was fuelled by a series of photos of two lifeless bodies, believed to be of two missing students, going viral. The government was quick to re-impose a ban on mobile and VPN internet data services for five days, just three days after it was lifted.
Authorities also ordered the closing of all schools till Friday due to the prevailing situation. The Home Department said that the government was keeping a tight watch on the prevailing situation as misinformation, rumors, and other violent acts through various social media platforms were likely to create more trouble.
Manipur Violence News: Security beefed up after students’ killing incident
“Security has been beefed up to prevent any untoward incident,” an official said. A tense calm prevailed in Singjamei even though shops and business establishments were open and vehicles plied the roads.
The state government has relaxed curfew restrictions from 5 am to 9 pm in Imphal East and Imphal West districts on Wednesday to facilitate the general public to purchase essential items including medicines and food, an official notification said.
Since May, the state has been gripped by widespread Manipur Violence following a high court directive. The court order advised the state government to contemplate including the non-tribal Meitei community in the list of Scheduled Tribes (ST), sparking ethnic clashes.