Gatherings and internet services have been suspended
Authorities in Manipur have banned public gatherings and suspended mobile internet services in the state's Churachandpur district after a mob protesting a survey of reserved and protected forests and areas set fire to the venue of an event chief minister N Biren Singh was scheduled to attend late Thursday.
Churachandpur's additional district magistrate S Thienlatjoy Gangte issued an order citing a report noting the "likelihood of breach of peace, disturbance to public tranquillity, and grave danger to human lives and properties" as the reason for the ban.
It stated that internet services had been blocked due to the call for a shutdown by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) and the possibility of popular mobilization via social media and networking sites.
The ITLF said in a statement on Thursday that it had sent memorandums on their concerns about the survey regarding the displacement of people from villages in reserved forests and protected forest wetlands, but that the government had shown little care.
The ITLF has therefore called for an eight-hour stoppage on Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in protest of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government's inability to answer their demands for the survey's cancellation.
Some members of ITLF also said that it pained their sentiments that the government demolished churches and has absolutely no consideration and respect for something which is deeply sacred to those following the Christian faith.
The mob was seen breaking chairs and destroying items inside a hall before setting fire to sports equipment at the location where Singh was expected to open a gymnasium and sports facility on Friday.
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