Imphal: August 19, 2026
Normal life in Manipur has been severely disrupted as a 48-hour general strike over the demand for implementation and updating of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the Census intensified across the state. The shutdown, called by the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD), began at midnight on Monday and has particularly affected the five valley districts.
The protesters are demanding that the NRC be updated before census-related activities proceed. The campaign has gained momentum amid concerns among sections of civil society over demographic changes, citizenship verification and the impact these issues could have on future delimitation exercises. The JFD and supporting organisations have been pressing for the NRC exercise with 1951 as the base year before the census process is carried forward.
Roads Blocked, Shops Closed
The strike has brought significant parts of the state to a standstill. Reports from the valley districts said protesters blocked roads by placing burning tyres, timber, trees and boulders on major routes. Shops and commercial establishments remained closed, while public transport and other routine services were disrupted.
The impact has been particularly visible in and around Imphal, where the shutdown has affected the movement of people and vehicles. Educational and other routine activities have also been disrupted as the agitation over the NRC-before-Census demand continues.
Protests Turn Tense at Census Training Centre
The agitation has also spread to locations associated with preparations for the Census. On August 18, a women-led protest outside the Imphal East District Commissioner’s office, where census training was taking place, turned tense amid heavy rain.
Police and protesters clashed during the incident, with reports saying a woman police personnel and a protester were injured. Police used tear gas to disperse demonstrators in the tense situation.
Earlier, students had also participated in protests against census-related activities. On August 17, clashes were reported at the Dhanamanjuri University complex, while demonstrations were also reported at other locations, including Bishnupur and along Tiddim Road.
Government Says It Supports NRC Within Legal Framework
The Manipur government has maintained that it is committed to the NRC issue. State Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam said on August 7 that the state government had conveyed to the Centre its willingness to conduct the NRC exercise within the constitutional and legal framework.
Amid the latest agitation, government spokespersons and MLAs have indicated that a delegation of ruling MLAs will travel to New Delhi to press the Centre on updating the NRC before the census exercise. The delegation is expected to seek the intervention of the central leadership on the issue.
Why the Census-NRC Issue Matters
At the heart of the current agitation is the demand that citizenship verification should precede the census exercise in Manipur. Supporters of the demand argue that an updated NRC is necessary to establish a clearer demographic and citizenship record before population data are officially compiled.
The issue has particular significance in Manipur because demographic change, migration and questions surrounding citizenship have remained politically sensitive subjects. The current movement has therefore brought together different sections of civil society, including community representatives and student groups.
Political Pressure Builds in Delhi
The latest shutdown has also increased political pressure on both the state and Central governments. The proposed visit of NDA/ruling-party MLAs to Delhi indicates that the issue is moving beyond street protests and increasingly becoming a matter for political negotiations with the Centre.
The state government faces the challenge of balancing the demands of organisations seeking an early NRC exercise with the need to ensure that census preparations continue within the legal and constitutional framework.
What Happens Next?
The 48-hour strike is expected to keep normal activities disrupted until it concludes. While much of the agitation has remained peaceful, incidents involving protesters and security personnel have raised concerns about the possibility of further escalation.
The immediate focus is now on whether the Centre responds to the demand for an NRC exercise before the Census and how the proposed delegation of Manipur MLAs presents the state’s position in New Delhi.
The developments are significant because the NRC-before-Census demand has now evolved from a civil-society campaign into a major political and administrative issue, putting both the Manipur government and the Centre under increasing pressure ahead of the census process.
