Manipur ethnic violence and internet shutdown, 2023-2025

What the government did

1. 3 May 2023

   Internet shutdownState government, ManipurShare

   By an order of the Commissioner (Home) dated 3 May 2023, mobile data was suspended statewide for five days, and an order of 4 May extended the suspension to all internet services including broadband and VSAT, according to the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF).

   MoreLess · 4 sources

   The orders were renewed every five days and cited the spread of disinformation and false rumours through social media. In Churachandpur and Pherzawl districts internet had been suspended earlier: from 27 April according to IFF, which cites an order of that date, and from 28 April according to SFLC.in. On 7 July the Manipur High Court referred to "the complete ban imposed by the State Government on providing internet service in the State". Leased-line and fibre broadband were partly restored on 25 July, and the statewide suspension was lifted on 23 September, according to SFLC.in. On 26 September the Home Department again suspended mobile data and VPN services for five days; The Wire reported that the order cited disinformation, false rumours and the mobilisation of mobs of agitators and demonstrators. SFLC.in reported that the suspension was extended in five-day blocks and relaxed on 3 December 2023 except in areas the state described as still volatile. Counts of the length of the first shutdown differ (see figures).

   • 83 days of internet suspension before broadband was partly restored on 25 July 2023, said SFLC.in [1]
   • 142 days of statewide internet suspension from 3 May to 23 September 2023, said SFLC.in [1]
   • 143 days of statewide internet suspension from 3 May to 23 September 2023, said The Wire [27]

   Sources [19][18][1][27]

2. 4 May 2023

   OtherState government, ManipurShare

   Shoot-at-sight authorisation.

   MoreLess · 3 sources

   By Order No. H-3608/2/2023-HD-HD of 4 May 2023, issued by the Commissioner (Home) in the name of the Governor of Manipur and citing the situation after the Tribal Solidarity March of 3 May, the state authorised all District Magistrates, Sub-Divisional Magistrates and Executive Magistrates/Special Executive Magistrates to issue shoot-at-sight orders 'in extreme cases whereby all forms of persuasion, warning, reasonable force, etc. had been exhausted under the provisions of law under CrPC, 1973 and the situation could not be controlled'.

   Legal basis: Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (as named in Order No. H-3608/2/2023-HD-HD)

   Sources [22][23][2]

3. 4 May 2023

   OtherCentreShare

   Article 355 and security control (contested).

   MoreLess · 5 sources

   Media reports on 4 and 5 May, citing unnamed sources, said the Centre had invoked Article 355 of the Constitution and taken charge of security, and that the Home Ministry had appointed Kuldip Singh, a former head of the CRPF, as security adviser. The Wire later reported that the state's then police chief had also said at a press conference that Article 355 had been imposed. The Morung Express reported on 4 May that there was no official notice of this from either the State or the Central Government. In its statement to the Supreme Court on 8 May, the Union Government said a senior former police officer had been appointed Security Adviser by the State Government. On 1 August 2023 The Wire reported that the Ministry of Home Affairs, replying to an RTI application, said it held no information on any notification under Article 355 issued between January and 13 June 2023. Whether Article 355 was formally invoked is contested.

   Sources [2][3][23][4][7]

4. 8 May 2023

   OtherCentreShare

   The Union Government told the Supreme Court on 8 May that central armed police companies and Army and Assam Rifles columns had been deployed (see figures), flag marches held, and helicopters and drones used to monitor the situation.

   MoreLess · 1 source

   • 52 companies of Central Armed Police Forces deployed, said Union Government (statement to the Supreme Court) [7]
   • 105 columns of the Army and Assam Rifles deployed, said Union Government (statement to the Supreme Court) [7]

   Sources [7]

5. 7 Jul 2023

   OtherCourtShare

   In Aribam Dhananjoy Sharma v.

   MoreLess · 4 sources

   State of Manipur (PIL No. 25 of 2023 and connected cases), the Manipur High Court on 7 July 2023 directed the Home Department to lift the ban on internet through Internet Lease Lines throughout the state once the safeguards suggested by an expert committee were in place, allowed fibre-to-the-home connections to be restored case by case, and directed the state to carry out a physical trial of internet access for whitelisted mobile numbers and report back. The state challenged the order. On 17 July 2023 the Supreme Court recorded the Solicitor General's statement that the state would take any difficulties in implementation to the High Court, did not enter the merits, and disposed of the petition. On 1 December 2023, according to Bar & Bench and SFLC.in, the High Court said the state could not continue the mobile internet ban in the entire state.

   Sources [19][20][21][1]

6. 7 Aug 2023

   Commission of inquiryCourtShare

   In Dinganglung Gangmei v.

   MoreLess · 1 source

   Mutum Churamani Meetei, the Supreme Court constituted a committee of three former High Court judges, Justices Gita Mittal, Shalini Phansalkar Joshi and Asha Menon, to inquire into violence against women in Manipur from 4 May 2023 and to report on relief and rehabilitation. It appointed former Maharashtra DGP Dattatray Padsalgikar to supervise the CBI's investigation of the FIRs transferred to it and the state's investigation of the rest, and asked him to investigate allegations that some police officers colluded with perpetrators. The judgment records figures from the State of Manipur's status report of 1 August 2023 (see figures).

   • 6,523 FIRs registered as of 25 July 2023, said State of Manipur (status report to the Supreme Court) [7]
   • 150 deaths between 3 May and 9 June 2023, said State of Manipur (status report to the Supreme Court) [7]
   • 502 persons injured, said State of Manipur (status report to the Supreme Court) [7]
   • 252 persons arrested in connection with the FIRs, said State of Manipur (status report to the Supreme Court) [7]
   • 12,740 preventive arrests, said State of Manipur (status report to the Supreme Court) [7]

   Sources [7]

7. 26 Sep 2023

   Tear gasPolice, ManipurShare

   Students in Imphal protested on 26 September 2023 against the killing of two Meitei students, Hijam Linthoingambi and Phijam Hemjit, who had been missing since July.

   MoreLess · 4 sources

   Police fired tear gas, according to The Wire and Anadolu. The Wire, citing sources and video, and PTI reported that protesters were also baton-charged, and PTI reported that Rapid Action Force personnel fired rubber bullets in Singjamei that night. Counts of the injured differ (see figures). In a press statement reported by The Wire, Manipur Police said some protesters used iron pieces and stones against security forces and that minimum force was used to disperse them. Protests and the use of force continued on 27 September. The state reimposed the mobile internet suspension on 26 September (see the internet shutdown action).

   • 45 protesters injured on the night of 26 September, said PTI [30]
   • 47 students with minor injuries, said an official at the central control room (to Anadolu) [29]
   • at least 83 people injured over 26-27 September, said The Wire [28]
   • 1,697 persons detained for violations in different districts, said Manipur Police (press statement) [28]

   Sources [27][29][28][30]

8. 13 Feb 2025

   OtherCentreShare

   President's Rule was imposed in Manipur under Article 356 after Chief Minister N.

   MoreLess · 6 sources

   Biren Singh resigned, with the Assembly kept in suspended animation. It was extended in August 2025 for six months. ANI reported that the President revoked the proclamation with effect from 4 February 2026, after the BJP named Yumnam Khemchand Singh as its legislature party leader; he became Chief Minister in February 2026.

   Legal basis: Article 356 of the Constitution

   Sources [31][10][9][32][33][6]

Outcome

SFLC.in described the internet shutdown as the longest in India in 2023 and the longest outside Kashmir. Biren Singh resigned in February 2025 and President's Rule ran from 13 February 2025 to 4 February 2026, when it was revoked and a BJP government under Yumnam Khemchand Singh took office. Amnesty International put the death toll at more than 250 and the number displaced at over 60,000 by February 2025.

Background

Who governed at the start of the protest. Each action above counts for the party in power where and when it happened.

Centre government

BJPNDA, Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

State government

BJP in Manipur, N. Biren Singh, Chief Minister

Places

Imphal West, Imphal East, Churachandpur, Bishnupur, Kangpokpi, Tengnoupal, Kakching, Thoubal, Jiribam

Cause

Opposition by tribal groups to Scheduled Tribe status for the Meitei community, after a Manipur High Court order of 27 March 2023; the protest was followed by ethnic violence. Later protests included student protests in Imphal in September 2023 over the killing of two Meitei students

Organisers

All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) (Tribal Solidarity March)

Scale

Statewide ethnic violence. The State of Manipur told the Supreme Court of 150 deaths between 3 May and 9 June 2023; Amnesty International put the toll at more than 250 killed and over 60,000 displaced by February 2025

What they said

Words in quote marks were matched in the source. Everything else is a summary; open the source for the exact words. Each statement says whether the speaker's party was in power or in opposition at the time.

Sources

1. 1Trend of long internet shutdowns in India - Manipur crisisSFLC.in (internetshutdowns.in), 16 Oct 2023T5 SecondaryArchived 30 Nov 2023
2. 2Centre invokes Article 355 as situation worsensThe Sangai Express, 5 May 2023T5 SecondaryArchived 5 May 2023
3. 3Manipur: Centre Invokes Article 355, Takes Over Security in Violence-Hit StateThe Quint (EastMojo), 5 May 2023T5 SecondaryArchived 5 May 2023
4. 4Manipur: Centre Says 'No Information' on Article 355The Wire, 1 Aug 2023T5 SecondaryArchived 1 Aug 2023
5. 5Why ethnic violence in India's Manipur has been going on for three monthsAl Jazeera, 9 Aug 2023T5 SecondaryArchived 9 Aug 2023
6. 6India: Authorities must uphold human rights and end violence in Manipur following Biren Singh's resignationAmnesty International, 11 Feb 2025T5 SecondaryArchived 12 Feb 2025
7. 7Dinganglung Gangmei v. Mutum Churamani Meetei, 2023 INSC 698Supreme Court of India, 7 Aug 2023T2 CourtArchived 14 Jun 2025
8. 8Why Prime Minister Modi's speech on Manipur is worse than his silenceScroll, Supriya Sharma, 20 Jul 2023T5 SecondaryArchived 20 Jul 2023
9. 9BJP has given a big assurance to its Manipur MLAs frustrated with extended President's RuleThePrint, Moushumi Das Gupta, 13 Nov 2025T4 ReportArchived 25 Nov 2025
10. 10No cabinet expansion in about 7 months, Manipur CM holds over 20 portfolios, his 4 colleagues the restThePrint, Moushumi Das Gupta, 6 Sep 2026T4 ReportArchived 7 Sep 2026
11. 11'Good gesture, but will it help us?' Hope & hurt greet Modi in 1st Manipur visit since ethnic violenceThePrint, Moushumi Das Gupta, 13 Sep 2025T4 ReportArchived 13 Sep 2025
12. 12'Mauritius, Qatar, Dubai, why not Manipur?' Oppn attacks Modi again for not visiting strife-torn stateThePrint, Apoorva Mandhani, 17 Mar 2025T4 ReportArchived 17 Mar 2025
13. 13PM's statement ahead of Monsoon session of Parliament, 2023Prime Minister's Office (pmindia.gov.in), 20 Jul 2023T1 Record
14. 14संसद के मानसून सत्र-2023 से पूर्व प्रधानमंत्री का वक्तव्यPrime Minister's Office (pmindia.gov.in), 20 Jul 2023, In HindiT1 Record
15. 15PM's address at the laying of foundation stone of various development works at Churachandpur, ManipurPrime Minister's Office (pmindia.gov.in), 13 Sep 2025T1 Record
16. 16मणिपुर के चुराचांदपुर में विभिन्न विकास कार्यों की आधारशिला रखने के अवसर पर प्रधानमंत्री का संबोधनPrime Minister's Office (pmindia.gov.in), 13 Sep 2025, In HindiT1 Record
17. 17PM's address at the inauguration of various development works in Imphal, ManipurPrime Minister's Office (pmindia.gov.in), 13 Sep 2025T1 RecordArchived 29 Jan 2026
18. 18IFF wrote to Manipur State Authorities on the ongoing digital rights violationsInternet Freedom Foundation, Gayatri Malhotra, 24 Jun 2023T5 SecondaryArchived 26 Jun 2023
19. 19Aribam Dhananjoy Sharma @ Paojel Chaoba & ors. v. State of Manipur & ors., PIL No. 25 of 2023, order of 7 July 2023High Court of Manipur (copy published by LiveLaw), 7 Jul 2023T2 CourtArchived 15 Jul 2023
20. 20State of Manipur v. Aribam Dhananjoy Sharma, SLP(C) No. 14732/2023, record of proceedings of 17 July 2023Supreme Court of India, 17 Jul 2023T2 Court
21. 21Cannot continue mobile internet ban in entire State: Manipur High CourtBar & Bench, 1 Dec 2023T5 Secondary
22. 22Government of Manipur, Home Department, Order No. H-3608/2/2023-HD-HD of 4 May 2023 (image of the order posted by ANI)ANI via ANI on X, 4 May 2023T1 RecordArchived 8 Nov 2025
23. 23Manipur Govt authorises 'shoot at sight' ordersThe Morung Express, 4 May 2023T5 SecondaryArchived 4 May 2023
24. 24'Shoot-at-sight' orders issued after violence in India's ManipurAl Jazeera, 4 May 2023T5 SecondaryArchived 4 May 2023
25. 25Army called in to control violence in Manipur; 9,000 people shifted to safer placesDeccan Herald, Sumir Karmakar, 4 May 2023T4 Report
26. 26Manipur violence: Army conducts flag march in strife-torn Imphal Valley; curfew relaxed in Imphal EastANI via The Tribune, 18 Jun 2023T5 SecondaryArchived 18 Jun 2023
27. 27In Sudden Reversal, Internet Shut Down Again in ManipurThe Wire, Yaqut Ali, 26 Sep 2023T4 ReportArchived 28 Sep 2023
28. 28Manipur: Over 80 People Injured as Protests Continue in ImphalThe Wire, 27 Sep 2023T5 SecondaryArchived 29 Sep 2023
29. 29'Killing' of 2 missing students trigger protests in northeastern Indian stateAnadolu Agency, Shuriah Niazi, 27 Sep 2023T4 ReportArchived 2 Oct 2023
30. 30Tensions Simmer In Singjamei After Clash Between Students And RAF PersonnelPTI via Outlook, 27 Sep 2023T5 SecondaryArchived 27 Sep 2023
31. 31India's Manipur placed under President's Rule amid political turmoilThe Statesman (Asia News Network), Abhijit Deb, 14 Feb 2025T4 Report
32. 32President's Rule imposed in ManipurThe Hitavada, 14 Feb 2025T5 Secondary
33. 33India withdraws President's Rule from Manipur 'with immediate effect'ANI via Khaleej Times, 4 Feb 2026T5 SecondaryArchived 4 Feb 2026

Similar precedents

Faded actions are ones this precedent does not share.