Imphal, Feb 10: Authorities have imposed an indefinite curfew and suspended internet services for five days in Manipur’s Ukhrul district following a fresh outbreak of violence marked by arson and gunfire.
The unrest reportedly erupted late Monday night after armed miscreants torched houses in Litan Sareikhong village and fired several rounds in the air, triggering panic among residents. Several families were forced to flee their homes overnight as tensions escalated in the hill district.
In response, Manipur’s Home Commissioner-cum-Secretary N. Ashok Kumar issued an order suspending “internet/data services, including services through broadband, VPN and VSAT” across Ukhrul district for five days beginning 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.
The order described the suspension as a preventive and precautionary measure in view of the volatile law-and-order situation and the “apprehension that some anti-social elements might misuse social media with images, posts and videos to incite passion.”
Despite the enforcement of prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) “until further orders” and the deployment of multiple companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), incidents of violence have continued in parts of the district.
Officials said the situation has remained tense for the past five days, with repeated reports of houses being set ablaze by armed groups. Security forces have intensified operations in vulnerable pockets to prevent further escalation.
“Curfew has been imposed and internet has been suspended for five days to bring the place back to normalcy. Round-the-clock patrolling in sensitive areas has been going on by our security forces,” a police official said.
Authorities have urged residents to maintain peace and cooperate with security personnel as efforts continue to stabilise the situation.
