Imphal East District Magistrate has issued prohibitory orders for the whole area situated within the Revenue District of Imphal East District, Manipur from 6 pm of Thursday (November 2).
As per the order by District Magistrate Khumanthem Diana Devi, the order prohibits the movement of any person outside their respective residences; the unauthorized use of drones and wireless communication devices such as Walkie-Talkies, Personal Mobile Radio (PMR) etc; and the spreading of false/fake news and rumour mongering.
The prohibitory order is for a period of two months with effect from 6 pm of November 2, the order stated.
In the order, the magistrate stated that the prohibitory order has come about following reports received from Superintendent of Police, Imphal West District vide letter Nic 6/14/SP-IW/2023 dated 2 November, 2023 and Superintendent of Police, Imphal East District vide letter No. C- 2/9/SP-IE/2023 dated 1 November, 2023.
In the letters of the SPs, it stated that there is apprehension regarding likelihood of serious breach of peace, disturbance to public tranquillity and grave danger to human lives and properties and also there is information regarding threatening of business community in Imphal area by underground elements for payment extortion demand and has requested to issue extend the prohibitory orders under sub section (2) of St 195 C.P.C. to the whole areas within revenue jurisdiction of Imphal East district.
The order by the district magistrate also stated such activities may cause serious breach of peace and disturbance to public tranquillity and thereby endanger human lives and properties in the area and that such disturbance of public tranquillity, breach of peace and endangerment of human lives and properties are sought to be prevented.
Further stating that restriction on assembly of five or more persons which is likely to turn unlawful and prohibition on carrying of firearms, sticks, stones, weapon or objects of any description which can be used as offensive weapon would be effective in preventing such disturbances as described above, the magistrate said that the movement of any person outside their respective residences needs to be imposed.
It has become expedient to issue prohibitory order with the objective of preventing breach of peace, disturbance to public tranquilities and endangerment of human life and property, I consider this fit case for issuing prohibitory orders under section 144 of Cr.P.C. 1973 in keeping with the above objective, Khumanthem Diana Devi, District Magistrate, Imphal East District stated.
As there is emergency and circumstances do not permit serving due notice upon the public, this order is passed ex-parte under Sub-section 2 of Section 144 of CPC 1973 and is directed to the public in general, the order stated.
The magistrate stated that the order shall not apply to government agencies or functionaries involved in the enforcement of law and that copies of this Order shall be pasted on the notice boards of the District Magistrate, Imphal East District, the Superintendent of Police Imphal East/Imphal West Districts, Manipur.
Wide publicity thereof in the schedule area shall also be caused by Officer-in-Charge of the police stations having jurisdiction over the said area, the order stated.
Meanwhile, curfew in the districts of Imphal East and West has been relaxed for Friday (November 3) however, with different timings. While it has been relaxed from 5 am to 10 pm for Imphal West district, it has been relaxed from 5 am to 6 pm for Imphal East.
