Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Saturday announced that the internet ban in the state, which has been hit by ethnic clashes since May 3, will be lifted from today onwards.
The CM made the announcement at a press conference.
Internet services were suspended in the wake of ethnic clashes on May 3 as a precautionary measure.
Internet shutdown was imposed in response to the May 3 violence, and on July 25 the Manipur government had announced conditional restoration of broadband services in the state. However, mobile internet services remained suspended.
The internet ban, first imposed for a period of five days, continued to be extended for five days at a time for nearly three months, with the government citing the law-and-order situation in the state.
Meanwhile, a day earlier, the Manipur government asked people in the state to surrender illegal weapons within 15 days or face comprehensive search operations by security forces.
“The state government is willing to take a considerate view of the persons submitting such illegal weapons within these 15 days starting today (Friday)”, the statement said, adding “at the end of these 15 days, central and state security forces will undertake strong and comprehensive search operations all over the state to recover such weapons, and all persons associated with illegal weapons will be dealt with severely, as per the law.”
“There have been reports of extortion, threats and abduction by miscreants using these illegal weapons. This is a serious matter and state government will take strong actions against such groups in any part of the state,” the statement said.