Mobile internet suspended, prohibitory orders imposed in tense Manipur

The situation in Manipur remained tense on Sunday after mobile internet services were suspended across the state and prohibitory orders imposed in some areas in the wake of an indefinite economic blockade on two national highways called by an influential student body over more autonomy for the hill districts officials saidVehicular movement and supplies from Assam have been hit due to the blockade on the ImphalDimapur highway NH2 and ImphalJiribam highway NH39 imposed by the All Tribal Students Union Manipur ATSUMAn order issued by Special Secretary Home H Gyan Prakash late on Saturday said mobile internet services were suspended for five days as some antisocial elements were using social media to transmit hate speechesThe decision was taken after a vehicle was set ablaze by miscreants at Phougakchao Ikhang in Bishnupur district on Saturday evening it saidThe incident has led to communal tension the order addedAlso Read Uttar Pradesh Man killed brother injured following clash between 2 groupsHours later another vehicle was also torched at TorbungBangla in the district by masked men officials saidMeanwhile the district magistrates of Bishnupur and Churachandpur have imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC for a period of two months beginning Saturday eveningNo further untoward incidents have been reported the officials saidThe ATSUM has been pressing for tabling of the Manipur Hill Areas Autonomous District Council Amendment Bill 2021 in the monsoon session of the assembly for greater financial and administrative autonomy of the hill region in order to ensure development at par with the valley areas of the stateInstead the N Biren Singhled BJP government of the state introduced the Manipur Hill Areas District Council 6th and 7th Amendment Bills earlier in the week which the protesters claimed was not in line with their demandsThe ATSUM was observing a total shutdown in the tribaldominated Kangpokpi and Senapati since Tuesday after the new amendments were introduced unannouncedSchools colleges shops and business establishments were closed because of the shutdown while passenger buses stayed off the roads The strike ended on Friday morning following which the economic blockade began affecting supplies to the Meiteidominated Imphal valley region the officials saidPolice have arrested five student leaders of ATSUM for conspiracy to organise the protestsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever