Manipur govt restrains circulation of videos depicting violence, damage to properties in state
Imphal (PTI): In a bid to restrain the circulation of videos and images depicting violence and damage to properties in the state, the Manipur government in an order said such dissemination will be dealt with severely and booked as per law.
The order, which was issued on Wednesday night, came even as videos and images of widespread violence went viral on social media platforms. One such video shows two youths being shot at point blank and then being buried in a pit by a group of people. The location of the incident site and the place of the burial is, however, not known.
The order issued 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.
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.
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 the security forces and police on the protestors.
The protest prompted the Centre to send a team of CBI official and four accused were subsequently arrested by the CBI team. They 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 the Meiteis for tribe status.
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Voting begins for 38 seats in 2nd phase of Jharkhand assembly polls
Ranchi (PTI): Polling for 38 assembly seats in the second and final phase of Jharkhand elections commenced on Wednesday, amid tight security arrangements, officials said.
Voting began at 7 AM in 14,218 booths across 12 districts and will continue till 5 PM.
However, polling in 31 booths will end at 4 PM though people standing in the queue at that time will be able to exercise their franchise, the officials said.
A total of 1.23 crore voters, including 60.79 lakh women and 147 third-gender electors, are eligible to exercise their franchise on Wednesday.
Altogether 528 candidates, including Chief Minister and JMM leader Hemant Soren, his wife Kalpana Soren and Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri of the BJP, are trying their luck in the second phase of the elections.
Taking to X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Today is the second and last phase of the great festival of democracy in Jharkhand. I urge all voters to participate in it enthusiastically and create a new record of voting. On this occasion, I especially congratulate all my young friends who are going to vote for the first time. Your every vote is the strength of the state."
Eighteen of the 38 constituencies are in the Santhal Pargana region comprising six districts - Godda, Deoghar, Dumka, Jamtara, Sahibganj and Pakur.
The remaining 18 seats are in the North Chotanagpur division and two in South Chotanagpur.
Of the total 14,218 polling stations, the responsibility of the entire voting process at 239 is in the hands of women and 22 are manned by persons with disabilities (PwDs), Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) K Ravi Kumar said.
The ruling JMM-led INDIA bloc is seeking to retain power riding on its welfare schemes, while the BJP-headed National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is trying to wrest it.
The first phase of elections was held on November 13, and the counting of votes will take place on November 23.
