Today marks 50 days since internet has been shut down in Manipur which has been witnessing ethnic violence between Meitei and Kuki communities for over a month. Internet rights and research organisation Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) issued a statement expressing its concern over the continuing internet shutdown.
"Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) is deeply troubled by the indefinite character that the Manipur shutdown has acquired. Initially, only mobile data services were suspended, however, since the second day of the shutdown, it has been extended to a blanket suspension of all internet services," it said in a statement.
The ongoing internet suspension is being enforced through "templatised orders" issued every five days, which the organisation said is contrary to the Supreme Court of India’s (SC) ruling in Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India, which prohibits indefinite suspension of internet services.
The statement also refers to other “violation of fundamental rights” in Manipur, including the Manipur chief secretary saying that individuals spreading “fake news, lies, rumours, or misinformation” will be charged with sedition, despite the fact that the Supreme Court has put a stay on the sedition law.
"In its order, the SC specifically directed the State and Union Governments to refrain from registering FIRs, conducting investigations, or taking any other coercive measures under S. 124-A," the IFF said.
Referring to reports that Twitter accounts are being censored and withheld in India, ‘under a legal demand’, the IFF said that public authorities have not released any such legal orders or demands which deprives individuals of knowledge regarding the reasons for censorship and the opportunity to legally challenge it.
The Twitter handle of the tribal forum Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), which describes itself as a conglomerate of recognised tribes in Lamka district of Manipur, has been "withheld" in India.
"ITLF Media Cell account has been withheld in India in response to a legal demand," reads a statement on the tribal body's Twitter page.
"Secrecy in online censorship and bans, which is a continuing administrative practice, undermines the individual’s fundamental right to expression and the collective fundamental right to receive information," the IFF further said in its statement.
The Manipur High Court on June 20 directed the state government to restore partial internet services in certain designated areas, after noting that people in the state are facing hardships due to the internet ban, especially students sitting for the ongoing admission processes.
So far, nearly 120 people have lost their lives and over 3,000 are injured in the violence that broke out over a month ago.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has convened an all-party meeting on June 24 in New Delhi to discuss the situation in Manipur.
