Manipur census row: Schools shut, rallies and road blockades continue

Citing the "prevailing law-and-order situation", Manipur administration on Wednesday unveiled that all educational institutes in the state would remain closed for three days from August 20.

Key points

• At Khurai Lamlong in Imphal East, protesters on Wednesday set ablaze effigies representing Chief Minister Y Khemchand Singh and Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam.
• Bandh supporters additionally maintained road blockades at various points in Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur and Thoubal.
• In Imphal West, a sizeable group of protesters marched for around two kilometres through Singjamei, raising slogans in backing of their demands.
• The demonstrators pressed the Census to be deferred until internally displaced residents (IDPs) are able to return to their original homes.
• Authorities in Thoubal cancelled a training session scheduled for census supervisors, enumerators and field trainers, authorities stated.

While Kuki organisations have resisted the move and demanded that the census be conducted without conditions, according to a report, Meitei and Naga groups are pressing for an National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise before census enumeration.

PTI reports that protesters intensified their agitation in Manipur's valley districts on Thursday, the second day of a 48-hour general strike called by the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD), demanding that the NRC be updated before the state's Census exercise begins.

Demonstrators held rallies at a number of locations and set fire to effigies of political leaders as part of the protest. The JFD has additionally called on a boycott of administration offices from Thursday, adding to its ongoing campaign over the NRC and delimitation matters.

According to an Education Department order, schools affiliated with the Board of Secondary Education Manipur, Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur, CBSE and other boards, along with colleges, universities and other higher education institutions, will remain shut from August 20 to 22. The directive applies to administration, aided and unaided institutions.

Notably, the shutdown came as protests continued in a number of parts of the state's valley districts over demands linked to the proposed Census and the updating of the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Meanwhile, the demonstrators pressed the Census to be deferred until internally displaced residents (IDPs) are able to return to their original homes.

Bandh supporters additionally maintained road blockades at various points in Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur and Thoubal. Private vehicles and security personnel were halted at a number of locations, with protesters directing them to turn back.

Meanwhile, authorities in Thoubal cancelled a training session scheduled for census supervisors, enumerators and field trainers, authorities stated.

For now, manipur census row: Schools shut, rallies and road blockades continue remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.