Shutdown lifted, curfew eased, mobile data ban continues
- The People's Chronicle Editorial :: June 11, 2025 -

THERE is no doubt that the valley residents faced untold miseries on account Of the unprecedented 10-day shutdown call given by the Arambai Tenggol to protest the arrest of its fighting commander Asem Kanan by the CBI and continuous imposition of curfew, whereas the ban on mobile internet data by the government to contain public unrest is forcing many in the five valley districts, who are hooked to social media to readjust to the new normal.

The first two days of the shutdown call evoked overwhelming response from the womenfolk as well as the youth, consequently derailing normal livelihood activities across the state after passenger carriers and goods transporters ceased operation.

With Imphal serving as the crux of state's trade and commerce, the total shutdown of the commercial'centre has brought business activities to a grinding halt.

Even if the scale of agitation has subsided notably on the third day, commercial vehicles continue to remain off the roads and the main markets bereft of business activities on account of police teams enthusiastically enforcing the indefinite curfew, and blockading the Thangal bazar area by barricading almost all the entry/exit points.

With or without receiving the formal order, police teams manning these entry/exit points often resort to sealing off the whole of Thangal and Paona markets after dusk, leaving only the BT Road accessible to the public.

Such measures might be intended to ensure protection of the business community who mostly reside in these two market places but the same precautionary steps scuttling movement of the general population seem irrational and arbitrary especially during times of emergency.

In the past too, people experienced hardships as and when there were law and order problems, but it could probably be the first time that curfew has been imposed without any relaxation, thereby implying that the present President's Rule administration lacks the compassion to address inconveniences besieging the people.

Apart from imposition of curfew and shutdown severely affecting normal life in the state, the five-day ban on mobile internet and data services since June 6 night is taking a heavy toll on individuals and firms relying heavily on internet services.

The government might have perceived that the public agitation would cease through shutting down of mobile internet and data services but past instances of continuous protracted agitations despite similar restrictions underscore that the protesters don't need the help of information technology to air their grievances and make the authorities accord importance in addressing the same.

The protesters carrying out torch marches and unknown youngsters targeting security forces by pelting stones, using slingshots and firing live roads at security personnel ring out the message that priority should be in resolving the unrest situation within short notice rather than infuriating the masses by denying them access to internet.

Therefore, it is suggested that the government authorities review the prevailing situation in the wake of the Arambai Tenggol withdrawing the agitation and explore the possibility of lifting the curfew hours and restoring the mobile data service before the agitators assume that the ban on mobile internet service in the five valley districts is aimed at facilitating the other community in spreading falsehood against the Meetei community as in the first few months of the ethnic conflict.