Net restored in Manipur; schools to reopen today

The Manipur Government on Monday lifted the Internet ban in five districts of the state with immediate effect, six days after imposing it. The state government also ordered the reopening of schools and colleges from September 17.

Grenade attack on minister’s house, none hurt

• A grenade hurled by suspected militants exploded in the house of Manipur minister Kashim Vashum in Ukhrul district
• No one was injured in the incident that occurred on Saturday night, a senior officer said. Vashum said he and his family members were not at home when the grenade exploded

Manipur Home Commissioner N Ashok Kumar said Internet services, including lease lines, VSATs, broadband and VPN services, were to be restored immediately. Earlier, the government had lifted the suspension of Internet services via broadband connections on September 12.

“After reviewing the prevailing law and order situation in the state, the government has decided to lift any form of temporary Internet suspension in Manipur, which was in good faith imposed as preventive measure in public interest,” Kumar said in his order.

The state government had banned mobile Internet and broadband Internet services in five Valley districts — Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching — on September 10. The ban was imposed to control law and order in the state after student-led protests in Imphal sparked clashes with police. The protesters were demanding the restoration of normalcy in the state after 16 months of ethnic violence. They had also announced indefinite shutdown of schools in Valley areas until their demands were fulfilled by the government.