Imphal | In a major step to maintain law and order and social harmony, the Manipur administration has launched a large-scale crackdown on rumours and inflammatory content spreading through social media platforms. According to state police, 187 social media accounts and pages have been blocked since June 2023, while around 3,200 posts identified as inciting violence, tension, or spreading misinformation have been removed. The entire operation has been carried out in coordination with the state IT department and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India.
Officials said that in recent months, a significant amount of content circulating on social media had the potential to escalate community tensions. To address this growing challenge, a dedicated digital monitoring system was developed. Under this system, more than 5,400 suspicious posts have been identified so far, out of which a large number have already been taken down, while several others are still under review.
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According to the top state police leadership, misinformation on social media does not remain limited to the digital space alone but often has a direct impact on ground realities. This makes it essential to continuously strengthen cyber surveillance mechanisms. The cyber unit of the police has been actively tracking content that attempts to spread rumours or create tension between communities.
The administration also highlighted that the police have significantly expanded their official social media presence to ensure that accurate and verified information reaches the public quickly. There has been a noticeable rise in followers across official platforms, including Facebook, indicating that citizens are increasingly relying on verified government communication channels.
Officials stated that the situation in the state has remained sensitive since 2023, and in such an environment, the impact of misinformation becomes even more serious. Therefore, both the government and police are prioritising cyber monitoring, fake news detection, and digital verification systems. Plans are also underway to further enhance technological infrastructure and digital intelligence capabilities to enable faster identification and removal of inflammatory content.
Alongside the online crackdown, security arrangements on the ground are also being strengthened. The police department is being equipped with modern vehicles, communication systems, forensic facilities, and advanced surveillance technologies. Authorities said these upgrades will not only improve law and order but also enhance emergency response capabilities.
The state is also continuing strict action against illegal activities and criminal networks. Several suspects have already been arrested, while investigations are ongoing in multiple cases. Officials emphasised that the objective of this drive is not just enforcement of law but also the restoration and maintenance of long-term peace and stability in society.
Citizens have been urged to avoid sharing unverified or suspicious information on social media and to rely only on official sources for updates. Authorities have clearly stated that strict action will continue against those spreading inflammatory content, and no leniency will be shown in such cases.
At present, the administration remains focused on strengthening digital monitoring, cyber security, and maintaining social harmony. It is expected that in the coming period, even stricter regulations may be introduced for social media platforms to ensure a complete curb on rumours and provocative content.
