Amid the ongoing protest, scores of students were injured in capital Imphal on Saturday when the tried to stop protest rally. Five tribal student leaders have reportedly been arrested and sent to jail for 15 days.
Imphal: Amid reports of massive protest across several regions, the authorities have suspended mobile interned across the state for five days while Section 144 has been imposed in two districts. The decision to this effect was taken in an urgent order issued by the Special Secretary (Home) Gyan Prakash late night on Saturday after a report by the Superintendent of Police of Bishnupur district that a vehicle was set ablaze by three-four men at Phougakchao Ikhang in evening. Following this, communal tension has been created in the region.
The order issued by state government said that few anti-social elements are using social media platforms to transit hate speeches inciting the passions of the public. Addiotionally the district administration of Bishnupur, in order to avert any untoward incident, has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC for a period of two months across the valley district beginning Saturday evening.
As per the reports, tension was created in the region after All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM) imposed an indefinite economic blockade along the national highways of the landlocked state on Friday morning. The ATSUM was demanding to table the Manipur (Hill Areas) Autonomous District Council Bill 2021 in the state assembly.
The ATSUM was demanding the 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 to ensure development at par with the valley areas of the state. Instead, the N Biren Singh-led BJP government of the state introduced the Manipur (hill areas) district council 6th and 7th amendment bills on Tuesday, which the protesters claimed was not in line with their demands.
Amid the ongoing protest, scores of students were injured in capital Imphal on Saturday when the tried to stop protest rally. Five tribal student leaders have reportedly been arrested and sent to jail for 15 days.