The Twitter account associated with the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum (ITLF), the organization led by tribal leaders that is leading the protest against the BJP government under the leadership of Biren Singh in Manipur, has been “withheld” within India. “ITLF Media Cell account has been withheld in India in response to a legal demand,” reads a statement on the tribal body’s Twitter page.
‘Shocking act of censorship’
The group said it has been subjected to “a shocking act of censorship” and that taking down the Twitter account “is yet another attempt to stifle the already marginalized Kuki-Zo tribal voice”. The tribal group also said ” it amounts to a violation of Article 19 (freedom of speech and expression) of the Indian Constitution.”
“Blocking of the ITLF Media Cell Twitter account is yet another attempt to stifle the already marginalized Kuki-Zo tribal voice. This act comes as an addition to the already crippling 40+ days of internet shutdown in the Manipur Hills districts (minimal restriction in the valley districts), severely limiting and hampering the ability of the Kuki-Zo tribals to report on-ground daily incidents of attacks perpetrated by state-sponsored Meitei separatists, rampaging Meitei mobs including Meira Paibis, and radicalized groups such as Arambai Tenggol and Meetei Leepun,” the ITLF said in a statement.
“Meanwhile, the violence in the hill-state continues raging. Two civilians were injured after mobs clashed with security forces overnight in Imphal. The mobs attempted to torch the houses of BJP leaders,” officials told news agency PTI.
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