The Manipur government has prohibited the circulation of videos or images depicting violence and damage to properties to restore normalcy in the ethnic strife-torn state.
Such dissemination will be dealt with severely and those responsible will be booked under the law, said the government order issued on Wednesday night.
Viral Violence on Social Media
The order was given as videos and images of widespread violence went viral on social media platforms. One such video showed two youths being shot at point blank and then being buried in a pit by a group of people. The location of the incident and the place of the burial is, however, not known.
Government's Stance
The order by the Manipur home department stated, "The state government views very seriously and with utmost sensitivity the reported spread of videos and images depicting violent activities, inflicting harm or injury to (any)body or damage to private and public properties through various social media platforms which may aggravate the law and order situation in the state.
"The state government after thorough examination of the matter has decided to restrain the act of spreading such videos and images as a positive step towards bringing normalcy in the state," it said.
Anyone in possession of such videos or images can approach the nearest superintendent of police irrespective of jurisdiction and submit them for taking appropriate action, the order said.
Legal Consequences
Any person found violating the order will be booked and prosecuted under the law and provision of misuse of technology. They will be dealt with under the IPC and IT Act, it added.
In September mass protests broke out in Imphal valley after images of bodies of two missing youths surfaced on the social media and more than 100 students, mostly girls, were injured in the crackdown by security forces and police on protestors.
The protest prompted the Centre to send a team of CBI official and four accused persons were subsequently arrested by the central probe agency. The four were taken to Guwahati for further investigation and legal procedures.
The northeastern state witnessed ethnic violence between the Meitei and Kuki tribe since May 3 this year. The violence had erupted after demands by Meiteis for tribe status.
