The powerful All Naga Students Association, Manipur(ANSAM) on Tuesday served an ultimatum to the state government to lift the order of internet shutdown within five days failing to which various forms of agitation would be started the next day.

Manipur government in yet another notification on Monday prohibited mobile internet services for an additional five days, extending until 7:45 p.m. on October 21.

The ANSAM in a statement states that it has been more than 158 days since the internet was shut down in the state partially lifting the order for specific users in the state. Lifting the order only for a few broadband users and government offices for administrative purposes at an exorbitant rate does not provide a solution to the necessities in times of urgency and cannot be a justification for its proportionality of the ongoing violence and prevailing situation.

In Manipur, the imposition of an internet ban has been extended as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order in the public interest against the apprehension that some anti-social elements might use social media extensively for transmission of images, hate speech, and hate video messages inciting the passions of the public which might have serious repercussions, an official notification states.

The notification comes despite, a powerful Naga Organisation, Tangkhul Mayar Ngala Long (TMNL) demanding immediate lifting of the current internet ban in the Ukhrul district, warning of stringent agitations if the government does not take appropriate action to address the issue.

Mobile internet was banned after violence broke out in the state on May 3. It was restored on September 23 but once again imposed a ban following a clash between police and students in Imphal. The students were protesting the alleged kidnapping and deaths of two youths, resulting in injuries to 45 students, including many girls, according to officials.