Normal life remained disrupted across Manipur’s Imphal Valley for the second consecutive day on Wednesday as the 48-hour statewide shutdown called by the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) continued in support of the demand for updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the Census-2027.
Shops, markets, educational institutions, government offices and business establishments remained closed across most parts of the six valley districts—Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Kakching and Jiribam. Public transport stayed off the roads and several areas wore a deserted look. The shutdown, however, had limited impact in the hill districts.
JFD activists blocked roads at several places using bamboo poles and stones and staged protests carrying slogans such as “No NRC, No Census.” Students also demonstrated outside the Directorate of Census Operations in Imphal, following which police used tear gas to disperse the protesters.
The agitation comes as the Census-2027 process has already begun, with self-enumeration starting on August 17. The main house-listing exercise is scheduled from September 1 to 30.
JFD convenor Jeetendra Ningomba said the 48-hour strike would end at midnight on August 19-20, but the agitation would continue. The organisation announced a boycott of all state and Central government offices from August 20, excluding health, education, electricity and water services. It also called for nightly torch rallies, protest meetings and awareness programmes.
Meanwhile, the Manipur government reiterated its support for the demand for NRC updation. BJP MLA and former minister Sapam Ranjan Singh said the state Assembly had passed a resolution supporting the NRC in 2022 and reaffirmed it in 2024. He said a team of MLAs was expected to visit New Delhi to seek the Centre’s guidance and press for the process.
Former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, also said he expected positive action from the Centre on the NRC issue.
The Joint Tribes Council Manipur separately demanded that the NRC be implemented using 1951 as the base year before the Census or delimitation exercise. It also called for verification of citizenship and expressed concern over alleged demographic changes caused by illegal immigration.
In a related development, the Sub-Divisional Officer, Lilong, issued an order on August 19 cancelling the Census training programme for supervisors, enumerators and field trainers scheduled under the earlier order.
