Manipur Student Group Demands NRC Before Census; Calls Two-Day Strike

Protests by student and civil society groups in Manipur have intensified amid calls for the identification of alleged 'illegal immigrants' before enumeration.

The Wire Staff

Protests by student and civil society groups in Manipur have intensified amid calls for the identification of alleged 'illegal immigrants' before enumeration.

manipur student group demands nrc before census calls two day strike

Imphal: Members of the Justice and Fair Delimitation (JFD) Student Wing clash with security personnel as they try to storm the DM College of Teacher Education on the DM University campus, in Imphal, Manipur, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026. Photo: PTI.

New Delhi: The Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) student wing in Manipur has declared a two-day general strike to demand for the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before census 2027 exercises begin in the state.

The strike, which began at 12am on Monday (August 17), comes amid outrage from student organisations and civil society groups in Imphal against preparations for the 2027 census. As per a report by The Indian Express, the JFD student wing has called for all census-related activities to be stopped until people who are considered as "illegal immigrants" are identified, with 1951 as the proposed base year for the exercise.

The strike coincides with the house-listing state of the 2027 census in Manipur, which commenced self-enumeration on August 17. The main house-listing operation is scheduled to take place between September 1 and September 30. Protesters have threatened to boycott the process entirely unless their demands are addressed.

According to The Indian Express, the strike has received support from several civil society organisations, including United Meitei Naga Committee Manipur, Federation of Naga Civil Society, Chandel Naga People’s Organisation, United Meitei Pangal Committee and Native People’s Committee Manipur.

Following the strike's announcement, protests were reported in many parts of the Imphal valley on Monday (August 17). Khwairamband Keithel, a major commercial hub, remained shut in solidarity with the agitation.

Clashes between protesting students and the police broke out at Dhanamanjuri (D.M.) University after students tried to prevent census-related training at two institutions. At least two protesters were injured in what was alleged to be a police lathicharge, reported The Indian Express.

At the same time, a student procession travelled from Kwakeithel towards Keisampat, with participants raising slogans against the census and urging people to boycott it.

As per the report, students at C.C. Higher Secondary School also participated in the agitation, while the All Manipur Students’ Union raised concerns about a potential 'land swap' between India and Myanmar. They said the move could have deep-rooted implications for Manipur’s territorial integrity.

With the house-listing phase currently ongoing, the question of an NRC before census next year has emerged as a central issue driving the current student protests.

This article went live on August eighteenth, two thousand twenty six, at forty-two minutes past twelve at noon.

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