The Manipur government suspended mobile data services in the state for five days to maintain law and order following violence reported from Bishnupur district on Saturday during a blockade called by a students' body.
The order by H. Gyan Prakash, home commissioner stated that the decision was taken after it was found that many were using social media extensively for transmission of images, videos and to spread hate speech and hate videos over burning of a vehicle near Tidim area on the NH-02 at around 3.35 pm on Saturday.
The vehicle was set afire by some youths belonging to a particular community during the blockade called by All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM). "The crime has created a tense communal situation and volatile law and order situation in the state," said the order issued by Gyan Prakash.
The students' body imposed the blockade since Friday demanding tabling of Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council (Amendment) Bill 2021 in the Monsoon session of Manipur assembly. The bill seeks greater financial and administrative autonomy of the hill region and to ensure development at par with the valley areas in the state.
"Social media has also become a handy tool for rumour mongering and is being used to incite the general public which might have serious repercussions for law and order situation in the state," it said while asking the mobile data service providers to comply with the order immediately.