Normal life in Imphal Valley ground to a halt for the second straight day on Wednesday, 19 August, as a 48-hour statewide strike called by the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) continued across the region. The shutdown, which began at midnight on Monday and was scheduled to end at midnight on Wednesday, was called to demand updation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur before the Census-2027.

Shutdown Impact Across Six Valley Districts

Shops, markets, educational institutions, government offices, and business establishments remained shut across the six valley districts — Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishnupur, Kakching, and Jiribam. Public transport was off the roads, and streets were largely deserted throughout the valley. The strike had no visible impact in the hill districts, including Churachandpur and Kangpokpi.

JFD activists and shutdown enforcers blocked roads with bamboo poles, stone boulders, and burning tyres in parts of Imphal East and Imphal West. Protesters put up posters carrying slogans such as 'No NRC, No Census'.

Police Fire Tear Gas at Student Protesters

Students demanding NRC implementation before Census-2027 staged a demonstration outside the Directorate of Census Operations in Imphal, prompting police to fire tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. Various student and youth organisations, women's bodies — including influential women torchbearers — and civil society groups backed the strike.

This comes amid the ongoing Census-2027 preparatory exercise: self-enumeration began on 17 August, with the main house-listing operation by enumerators scheduled from 1 September to 30 September this year.

What the Manipur Government Said

The Manipur government has already stated its support for the NRC updation demand and has been pursuing the matter with the Centre. Government spokesperson and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Sapam Ranjan Singh, a former minister, noted that the Manipur Legislative Assembly passed a resolution on 5 August 2022 urging NRC updation in the state. The resolution was reaffirmed by the Assembly on 1 March 2024.

Singh and fellow spokesperson Nityaipat Chuthek told reporters that the state government remains serious about the NRC and Census concerns and stands with the people of Manipur. Singh emphasised that the issue transcends political party lines, communities, and other differences, as it concerns the future of the state. He added that correspondence with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has been ongoing.

Former CM Biren Singh Returns from Delhi Meeting

Former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, who returned to Imphal on Tuesday after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, said the Centre would take positive action on updating the NRC in Manipur. A team of MLAs from Manipur is expected to visit New Delhi shortly to seek guidance from the Central government and once again urge it to initiate the NRC updation process.

With the Census-2027 preparatory exercise already underway and civil society pressure mounting, the Centre's next move on NRC updation will be closely watched across the state.