The recent decision to reimpose an internet shutdown in parts of Manipur has once again plunged the state into a familiar, suffocating silence.
For over a year, Manipur has been caught in a relentless cycle of ethnic violence and administrative crackdowns, but the "digital blackout" remains one of the most controversial tools used by the state.
While authorities argue that cutting off the internet is a necessary measure to stop the spread of inflammatory rumours and prevent the coordination of further attacks, the reality on the ground is that these blackouts often do more than just silence misinformation; they paralyse the daily lives of millions. Students find themselves unable to apply for exams, businesses that rely on digital payments collapse overnight, and for families separated by the violence, the loss of a WhatsApp call can be the difference between knowing a loved one is safe and fearing the worst.
The violence of silence creates a dangerous information vacuum. When the internet goes dark, the only thing that travels faster than a rumour is fear. Without access to verified news or the ability for local activists to document human rights violations in real time, the state becomes a black hole of accountability.
The Supreme Court of India, in the landmark Anuradha Bhasin case, previously ruled that an indefinite suspension of internet services is a violation of fundamental rights, specifically the freedom of speech and the right to carry on a profession.
Yet, in Manipur, the shutdown has been used as a recurring reflex rather than a last resort. This creates a psychological toll on the citizenry. Being cut off from the global conversation makes the people of Manipur feel like second-class citizens, isolated from the rest of the country’s digital progress.
Beyond the immediate safety concerns, the recurring shutdowns have gutted the local economy. In an era where the Indian government is pushing for a Digital India, the frequent blackout of an entire state’s connectivity seems deeply contradictory.
Small vendors who started using UPI are forced back into a cash economy they can no longer sustain, and the growing IT and service sectors in Imphal have seen a massive brain drain as professionals move to other states just to find a stable connection. The message sent by these shutdowns is clear: in the pursuit of security, the state is willing to sacrifice the modern survival tools of its people.
The tragedy of the Manipur case is that the silence doesn't actually stop the violence; it only hides it.
As long as the internet remains a switch that the government can flip at the first sign of trouble, the root causes of the conflict, distrust, land disputes, and ethnic tensions continue to fester in the shadows.
True stability won't come from keeping the people in the dark, but from building a communication bridge that is stronger than the rumours that seek to burn it down.
Until then, Manipur remains a haunting example of how easily a democratic society can be disconnected from its own rights.
References:
- https://www.thehindu.com
- https://www.livelaw.in
- https://www.amnesty.org
- https://internetshutdowns.in
- https://www.scobserver.in