Manipur Home Minister, Govindas Konthoujam, held talks with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Sunday to assess the state’s security following a fresh wave of ethnic unrest. The high-level meeting coincided with the state government’s decision to extend the suspension of mobile internet and data services — including VPN access — across five districts for a further two days.
The current round of restrictions and curfews followed a violent confrontation on Tuesday, which left two people dead and 29 injured. Security forces reportedly opened fire when a mob attempted to storm a paramilitary camp in Bishnupur. The protesters were reacting to the tragic deaths of a five-year-old boy and his six-month-old sister, who were killed in an explosion in Tronglaobi. Since that incident, three more civilians have lost their lives as protests spread across the region. On Sunday, authorities briefly relaxed the curfew for ten hours in Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Kakching, and Thoubal to allow residents to gather essentials.
During their discussion, Konthoujam and Shah focused on strategies to restore order. Writing on social media afterwards, Konthoujam described the dialogue as "constructive," noting that they deliberated on ways to strengthen peace and safeguard the interests of the local population. Prior to his trip to the capital, the state minister visited the families of the young blast victims and inspected new prefabricated facilities designed to house central forces, aimed at speeding up troop deployment in sensitive areas.
The state home department defended the ongoing internet blackout, citing the need for preventive measures to maintain public order. Officials expressed significant concern that disinformation and rumours circulated via platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and X could be used to mobilise mobs, potentially leading to further arson and property damage. While broadband and fibre services were conditionally restored earlier in the week, mobile data remains blocked due to the difficulty of monitoring it effectively.
The ethnic conflict in Manipur that started in May 2023 has already resulted in at least 260 deaths and the displacement of around 60,000 people. The fight initially pitting the Meitei and Kuki ethnic groups against each other is slowly pulling in other factions. Although Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh claims that there are no “buffer zones” in the region, the government maintains the existence of certain highly sensitive zones for both ethnic groups while they have retreated to their strongholds.
Also read: Manipur CM visits relief camp, meets murdered minor’s kin
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