Archive · 28 Aug 2026
Manipur Activists Hold Torch Rally, Demand NRC Before Census
Women activists in Manipur marched through Imphal carrying burning torches.
They want the National Register of Citizens, or NRC, updated before the country conducts its census.
The march began in Koirengei village and ended near Liberal College.
Police guarded the march to help prevent trouble.
The activists said they are not against the census itself.
They believe the NRC should happen first and that people they describe as outsiders should be removed.
Similar protests took place in several parts of Manipur earlier in August.
The government has said some legislators will meet the central government, but no decision to delay the census was reported.
Hundreds of Meira Paibi activists held a torch rally in Imphal on Thursday night.
The protesters demanded that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) be updated before the census.
The march ran from Koirengei village along National Highway-2 to Liberal College in Luwangsangbam.
Police provided heavy protection because of the region’s sensitive situation.
Related protests and torch rallies were held across Manipur on August 16, 20, and 23.
- Who
- Meira Paibi activists, supported by the North Imphal Meira and Clubs Coordinating Committee and the Campaign for Justice and Fair Delimitation.
- What
- They held a torch rally demanding an update of the National Register of Citizens before the census.
- When
- Thursday night; related protests occurred on August 16, 20, and 23.
- Where
- Imphal, Manipur, including the route from Koirengei village along National Highway-2 to Liberal College in Luwangsangbam village.
- Why
- The protesters want the NRC updated before the census and said the state’s condition is not suitable for conducting the census first.
NRC Before Census
Census Process and Government Response
Order of the exercises
NRC Before Census
Protesters say the NRC must be conducted and updated before the census, and they have urged the government to defer the census.
Census Process and Government Response
The report does not describe a final government decision to delay the census; it says some MLAs were expected to meet the central government.
Position on the census
NRC Before Census
A protester said the group is not opposed to the census itself but objects to conducting it before an NRC update.
Census Process and Government Response
The government’s reported response has focused on discussions with the central government, without a stated commitment to the protesters’ requested sequence.
- Main demand
- Update the National Register of Citizens before the census exercise.
- Organiser
- North Imphal Meira and Clubs Coordinating Committee, under the Campaign for Justice and Fair Delimitation.
- March route
- From Koirengei village along the National Highway-2 stretch to Liberal College in Luwangsangbam village.
- Participants
- Hundreds of women activists, according to the report.
- Security
- Police deployed heavy protection during the rally.
- Earlier activity
- Protests and torch rallies were reported across Manipur on August 16, 20, and 23.
- Government response mentioned
- The government said some MLAs would meet the central government; the report gives no decision to defer the census.