Manipur: AMUCO-led groups protest at Lamsang, demand NRC with 1951 base

Five civil society organisations led by AMUCO staged a protest at Lamsang Bazar in Manipur on Sunday, urging the state government to press the Centre to begin updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur with 1951 as the base year, The Sangai Express reported.

Along with AMUCO, the protest was organised by AMAWOVA, PLMPAM, COHR and MSF. The organisers described the demonstration as part of an ongoing movement.

Four demands

The five groups have been demanding:

• the start of the NRC updating process with 1951 as the base year;
• annulment of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, 2026;
• resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs); and
• repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958.

'Strong mass movements'

Addressing the protesters, AMUCO president and convenor of the five organisations Sanjoy Sorokhaibam said the prolonged violence in Manipur since May 2023 was an outcome of what he called the repressive policies of the Government of India.

He accused the Centre of trying to create permanent divisions among communities living together in Manipur and said people could no longer put faith in it. He urged all sections of society to keep up different forms of agitation until the Centre and the state government listened to the people and peace returned.

"We will launch strong mass movements. We will not tolerate any attempt to break Manipur or create divisions among communities. The Government of India must listen to the grievances of IDPs," he was quoted as saying. He also appealed to the state government to act responsibly and instil a sense of security among people.

There was no immediate response from the state government or the Centre to the demands.

Background

Manipur has seen ethnic violence since May 2023 that has left thousands of people displaced and living in relief camps. The demand for an NRC has been raised repeatedly by several organisations in the Imphal valley.

The protest came on a day of fresh tension in the state, after the bodies of two missing Kuki-Zo youths were found in Kangpokpi district. Manipur has also been kept out of the Census 2027 headcount schedule until further notice.