The Manipur government has extended a suspension of mobile internet services in five valley districts by two days, turning an initial three-day blackout into a five-day shutdown that now runs until 2:00 pm on April 14, 2026. The emergency order, signed by N. Ashok Kumar, Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Home), applies to Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Kakching and Bishnupur — the valley districts that include the state capital, Imphal.
The restrictions follow a bombing in the early hours of April 7 in the Moirang Tronglaobi area of Bishnupur, which killed two children — a five-year-old boy and a six-month-old girl — and injured their mother. The attack, attributed in reports to suspected Kuki-Zo militants, sparked immediate protests across the district, during which fuel tankers were set ablaze on public roads.
The government initially invoked Rule 3 of the Temporary Suspension of Telecommunication Services Rules, 2024, ordering a three-day suspension from 2:00 pm on April 7. Broadband services, including leased lines and fibre, were partially restored on April 8 under conditions set by authorities, but mobile internet remained cut. The latest order says officials reviewed the situation and found the threat undiminished.
The Home Department warned of the risk of “disinformation and false rumours” spreading on platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and X, saying such content “can cause loss of life and/or damage to public or private property by indulging in arson and vandalism.” The order was issued on an emergency basis and cautions that violations will attract legal action.
The shutdown covers mobile data across all generations and also affects fixed broadband, VSAT satellite connections and VPN services; landline voice calls remain operational. The five affected districts host most government services, hospitals and commercial activity in Manipur, heightening concerns about service disruptions.
Analysts and rights groups note repeated shutdowns disrupt healthcare coordination, suspend digital education and force businesses that depend on online payments and logistics to operate manually. According to the Software Freedom Law Centre, Manipur recorded 47 shutdowns across 2023 and 2024 totalling over 5,000 hours, making it the second most-shut-down state in India after Jammu and Kashmir.
Original Source: https://www.indiatodayne.in/manipur/story/manipur-extends-mobile-internet-suspension-in-five-districts-amid-unrest-concerns-1374401-2026-04-12?utm_source=rssfeed
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Publish Date: 2026-04-12 13:10:00
