The Manipur Home Department has ordered a temporary suspension of internet and mobile data services for three days, effective at 2:00 PM on April 7, 2026, across five districts. The districts are Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Kakching, and Bishnupur. The government issued the order under Rule 3 of the Temporary Suspension of Telecommunication Services Rules, 2024. The suspension includes Broadband, very small aperture terminals (VSATs), and Virtual Private Network (VPN) services.
Why was the shutdown ordered? The order states that authorities imposed the shutdown to prevent the spread of disinformation, false rumours, and the circulation of images, hate speech, and video messages that could incite unrest. It adds that such content could facilitate the mobilisation of mobs, resulting in arson, vandalism, and threats to life and property. The order followed a bombing in the Bishnupur district that killed two children and triggered protests on Tuesday, where two people were killed in police firing.
Internet shutdowns in Manipur since 2023 have totalled over 5,000 hours: Manipur has seen repeated and prolonged internet shutdowns since the ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo communities began in April 2023. The state imposed its longest shutdown that year, lasting around eight months, with services intermittently restored and then suspended again. Authorities again cut telecom services for five days in September 2024.Â
According to the Software Freedom Law Centre’s (SFLC) Let the Net Work 2.0 report, Manipur recorded 47 shutdowns across 2023 and 2024, totalling over 5,000 hours, making it the second-longest in India after Jammu and Kashmir.
Shutdowns in 2025: According to Top10VPN’s Cost of Internet Shutdowns Report 2025, India ranked ninth globally for the total duration of intentional internet shutdowns, recording 3,671 hours, behind countries including Russia, Venezuela, and Myanmar. These disruptions cost the Indian economy an estimated $179.8 million and affected around 52.5 million users during the year.
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