Indigenous Tribal Leaders Seek Intervention Over Internet Ban and Relief Ration Stoppage in Manipur

In a fervent appeal to the Union Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah, the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum (ITLF) has raised serious concerns regarding the prolonged suspension of internet services and the withholding of relief rations in Manipur's Churachandpur district.

The ITLF, represented by Chairman Pagin Haokip and Secretary Muan Tombing, addressed a letter to Shri Amit Shah, highlighting the unjust and discriminatory nature of these actions taken by the state government.

The suspension of internet services, which was initially declared as a temporary measure following a public protest, has been extended twice by the state government, despite the absence of any reported incidents of violence or unrest in the district. The ITLF has criticized this decision as biased, suggesting that it disproportionately affects tribal-inhabited areas while ignoring similar or more severe incidents in the state capital, Imphal.

Furthermore, the ITLF emphasized the critical importance of digital access in today's world and its impact on various aspects of life, including education, healthcare, and employment. They urged the central government to intervene and lift the internet ban in Churachandpur immediately, citing it as a matter of fundamental rights and fairness.

Not a single incident of violence has been reported in the district since the night of the protest, all commercial activities have resumed and all private and government offices are functioning. But despite all these, the state government has extended the ban twice, the latest of which will last till March 2, 2024.

This is a blatant form of discrimination where the Meitei-controlled government is conveniently using one incident to collectively punish an entire district for an indefinite period, ITLF alleged.

"Compare this to the increasing scenes of lawlessness in the state capital Imphal, and one cannot but feel that the internet ban in tribal areas is an openly biased decision.

In the past two weeks alone, various incidents show the breakdown of law and order in Imphal, but none resulted in an internet ban or even an official reaction from the government."

On February 13, 2024, a mob stormed the 5th IRB camp in Imphal East and looted around 200 weapons and 20,000 ammunition. What’s more shocking is that the mob faced no resistance from police personnel who were manning the camp. A mob also tried to loot weapons the same night from the Manipur Police Training Centre.

On Feb 23, 2024, a bomb blast took place inside DM University, the premier learning centre in the state, resulting in the death of one student and another being admitted to hospital. The same night, a series of arson attacks were carried out in different parts of the capital. Macha Leimai School in Imphal East district was torched, and several offices of civil society organisations, including the United Committee Manipur (UCM), the Coalition Against Drugs and Alcohol (CADA), and the Mapi Council, were also set on fire.

On February 24, 2024, the office of another CSO, Nongpok Leingak Apunba Nupi Lup (NLANL), was set on fire. And in a separate incident, a local journalist was brutally assaulted by armed men and his rented house was set on fire.

During the night, the remaining tribal houses in Imphal’s Vaiphei Veng which were unscathed in an earlier attack by Meitei mobs were all burnt down.

Additionally, the ITLF brought to light the alarming situation regarding relief ration distribution in the district. Relief materials, including rice and dal, intended for thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in over 100 relief camps, have been withheld by the deputy commissioner since the night of a protest on February 15, 2024. This withholding of essential supplies puts more than 17,000 IDPs at risk of starvation, according to the ITLF.

The deputy commissioner has refused to release rations for the past two weeks, putting more than 17,000 IDPs at the risk of starvation. This is another form of discrimination, whereby the DC is punishing people who have already lost their homes by threatening to starve them.

In their letter to the Union Home Minister, the ITLF urged urgent intervention from the central government to ensure the resumption of relief ration supplies to the affected relief centers without further delay.

The Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum emphasized that these actions by the state government not only violate the fundamental rights of tribal communities but also perpetuate discrimination and marginalization. They called upon the central government to uphold principles of fairness, justice, and humanitarianism in addressing these pressing issues in Manipur's Churachandpur district.