Imphal: The Campaign for Just & Fair Delimitation (JFD) has called a 48-hour general strike beginning at midnight on August 17, as protests intensified across Manipur over the government’s decision to proceed with the Census without first updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Thousands of women vendors at Khwairamband Ima Keithel shut their shops and staged protests on August 17, demanding that illegal immigrants be identified before the enumeration process begins. A large rally was also held from Tiddim Road to Keishampat in the afternoon.
In Kakching district, JFD members and local women gathered at the Deputy Commissioner’s office to submit a memorandum seeking deferment of the Census exercise.
Following the government’s decision to proceed with the scheduled exercise, JFD convenor Jeetendra Ningombam announced the 48-hour general strike from midnight on August 17.
The protests intensified following police action against student demonstrators in Porompat, which led to increased participation by youths and residents. Khwairamband Ima Keithel wore a deserted look as vendors displayed banners carrying messages such as “No NRC, No Census” and “No IDP Settlement, No Census.”
The organisers said they were not opposed to the Census itself. Instead, they argued that conducting the exercise while thousands of indigenous people remain displaced in relief camps after more than three years, and before alleged illegal immigrants are identified, could affect the accuracy of demographic data and future political representation.
The unrest has also spread to educational institutions. Members of the JFD Student Wing attempted to disrupt a Census operations training programme at the DM University of Teacher Education campus in Imphal. Security forces intervened and prevented them from entering the campus, leading to a tense standoff.
The incident followed a demonstration by members of the student wing outside the Directorate of Census Operations in Imphal East.
The protesters said they would continue their agitation until the authorities formally addressed their demands.