Sit-in protest staged against Census 2026, Calls for NRC first

A sit-in protest was staged today at Wangoo Sabal in Bishnupur district opposing the proposed Census 2026, with demonstrators raising the slogans “No NRC, No Census,” “NRC First, Census Next,” and “Peace and NRC First, Then Census.” The protest was held at the residence of social worker Shanjoy Ahanthem.
Addressing reporters, Shanjoy Ahanthem said the people of Manipur would not accept the conduct of Census 2026 under the prevailing conditions of unrest in the state. He said the census, scheduled to begin in April 2026, should not be carried out in a divided and segmented manner, warning that such an exercise could lead to serious socio-political consequences for the indigenous communities of Manipur.
Referring to the crisis that erupted on May 3, 2023, Shanjoy said a large number of Meitei people were displaced and many remain unable to return to their homes in areas such as Churachandpur, Moreh, and Kangpokpi. He said that if the first phase of the census involving house listing and village surveys is conducted at this stage, several demolished and flattened villages would be excluded, resulting in an inaccurate population count.
Shanjoy further claimed that more than 1,800 illegal villages exist in the state and expressed concern that illegal immigrants along the Indo–Myanmar border and migrants from Bangladesh could be included in the census. He cautioned that such inclusion could allow illegal immigrants to acquire legitimacy as citizens.
Stating that the public is not opposed to the census itself, Shanjoy cited the 2001 census, pointing out disparities in decadal population growth rates between valley and hill districts. He argued that these figures underscored the need for the completion of the National Register of Citizens before undertaking any fresh census exercise in Manipur.
The protesters reiterated their demand for restoration of peace and completion of the NRC prior to the census. Shanjoy appealed to all political parties to set aside differences and support the call for “NRC First, Census Next,” warning that failure to act could irreversibly alter Manipur’s demographic and social fabric in the coming decades.