Manipur was pushed deeper into paralysis today as multiple shutdowns, strikes and blockades called by different organisations brought commercial activity, public transport, education and movement of goods to a near standstill across the Valley and several hill areas, despite the Centre’s decision to defer the Census exercise in the state.
The unfolding shutdowns exposed the widening gap between the government’s decision to defer the Census and the demands of organisations insisting that the deferment alone is not enough. While Valley-based groups are pressing for an assurance on the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before any Census exercise, Naga organisations have announced measures against Census-related fieldwork in Naga-inhabited areas, while Kuki-Zo organisations have separately enforced a shutdown along National Highway-2 in protest against a recent attack.
The combined effect has been a further disruption of an already fragile civilian life in Manipur, with roads wearing a deserted look, markets remaining closed and public transportation largely off the roads.
In the five Valley districts—Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching—the 24-hour statewide general strike called by the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) began at midnight and continued despite the Centre’s decision on August 31 to defer the Census.
Shops, markets and commercial establishments remained closed, while schools and other educational institutions did not open. Government offices recorded poor attendance and public transport services, including e-rickshaws and inter-district and inter-state services, were largely suspended.
At Khwairamband Keithel, the state’s principal commercial centre, women supporters of the agitation took to the streets to enforce the shutdown. Reports from other areas also indicated attempts by bandh supporters to prevent vehicular movement. At Yairipok in Thoubal district, bamboo poles were reportedly placed across roads.
The JFD has maintained that the Centre’s decision to defer the Census does not meet its principal demand for implementation or updation of the NRC with 1951 as the base year before the population enumeration is undertaken. The organisation proceeded with the strike despite appeals from the state government to withdraw the agitation following the Centre’s decision.
Police attempt to detain JFD Convenor Jitendra Ningombam
A team of Manipur Police commandos allegedly attempted to detain campaign for Justice for Fair Delimitation (JFD) convenor Jitendra Ningombam at Konung Mamang while he was travelling with another JFD activist.
It is reported that the police team, which arrived in a bulletproof vehicle, intercepted him and the accompanying activist and attempted to take them into custody.
The situation drew the intervention of local Meira Paibis, following which Jitendra Ningombam and the other JFD activist were allowed to leave.
Police personnel present at the spot, however, reportedly explained that they had followed the vehicle because it did not have a registration number plate.
The incident comes against the backdrop of an earlier FIR reportedly registered against Jitendra Ningombam in connection with protests in the Imphal area demanding the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the Census exercise in Manipur.
No immediate official statement was available from Manipur Police clarifying whether Tuesday’s interception was connected to the earlier FIR or was solely related to the vehicle in which Ningombam was travelling.
The dispute has consequently shifted from whether the Census should begin on September 1 to what safeguards, if any, will precede the eventual exercise.
The Centre’s decision to defer the Census followed a high-level review meeting in New Delhi chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and attended by Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and other senior officials.
The Chief Minister’s Secretariat said concerns raised by people and civil society organisations regarding the implementation of the NRC before the Census were considered during the meeting. Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh subsequently expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah for considering the concerns raised from Manipur.
The deferment, however, failed to immediately calm the situation.
The Manipur High Court has also directed that the Census process in the state remain deferred until further orders while hearing petitions concerning the NRC and illegal migration. The next hearing has been fixed for October 12, 2026.
Meanwhile, the United Naga Council (UNC) has announced an economic blockade in Naga-inhabited areas and called upon Naga tribes and village authorities to prevent government officials from undertaking demographic or Census-related fieldwork.
The move threatens to further complicate the movement of people and essential commodities along highways connecting the Valley with the hill districts. Reports have emerged of restrictions affecting the transportation of food grains, fuel, cooking gas and medical supplies towards areas including Kangpokpi.
Civilian and commercial movement involving Kuki-Zo residents along key routes, including National Highway-2, has also reportedly faced restrictions and heightened checks amid the competing agitations.
In the hills, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU), a Kuki-Zo apex organisation, separately called a 24-hour shutdown of National Highway-2 from 5 am today, citing Monday’s deadly attack at Teikhang village in which three civilians were reportedly killed and four others critically injured.
CoTU has accused rival armed groups, including the NSCN-IM and ZUF, of involvement in attacks on Kuki-Zo villages and has demanded the deployment of security forces in what it describes as a neutral manner. The allegations have not been independently established.
Thus, even as the Centre’s Census deferment was expected to provide a window for de-escalation, Manipur has instead witnessed a convergence of competing shutdowns and blockades, each rooted in different political, demographic and security concerns.
The situation has left ordinary citizens bearing the immediate cost. Markets are closed, public transport is paralysed, educational institutions are shut and the movement of essential goods is increasingly vulnerable to disruptions at multiple points.
Organisations enforcing the shutdowns have generally exempted emergency medical services, ambulances, fire and rescue operations and media personnel from their calls, but the wider restrictions have nevertheless placed additional pressure on an already disrupted civilian economy.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh had earlier appealed to all sections of society to refrain from bandhs and blockades and to pursue grievances through other democratic means. The appeal, however, has so far failed to prevent the competing agitations from going ahead.
With the Valley demanding a clear roadmap on the NRC before the Census, Naga organisations opposing Census-related activity in their areas and Kuki-Zo organisations simultaneously raising security concerns, the Centre’s decision to defer the Census has bought time—but has not resolved the fundamental political and security questions confronting Manipur.
