IMPHAL — State authorities heightened security deployments on Wednesday following an intense day of agitation and violence. The Manipur NRC Protests 2026 reached a critical point when hundreds of Meira Paibi activists staged a massive torchlight rally in Imphal.
The demonstrators demanded an updated National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the Central Government starts the national Census. Meanwhile, fresh violence in Kangpokpi district further strained security across the state.
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Meira Paibi Women Lead Mass Night Marches Across Imphal Valley
Organized under the Campaign for Justice and Fair Delimitation (JFD), women activists assembled in large numbers at Koirengei village. Subsequently, the protesters marched carrying flaming torches along National Highway-2 toward Luwangsangbam.
Police units escorted the procession to prevent clashes along the sensitive highway corridor. Activists shouted slogans demanding that the government identify illegal migrants before commencing official population enumeration.
Violence Erupts in Kangpokpi Amid Alleged Attacks and Convoy Vandalism
While protests remained peaceful in the valley, violent incidents shook Kangpokpi district on the same day. Kuki village organizations reported an unprovoked attack on local farmers working in paddy fields near Wakotphai village.
Furthermore, attackers targeted a CRPF-escorted medical convoy traveling through the hill routes. Village volunteers intervened during the firing incident, leading to heavy exchanges along the Imphal-Tamenglong Road.
Civil Society Organizations Push for Immediate Citizenship Verification
The Manipur NRC Protests 2026 reflect deep demographic anxieties among valley residents. Civil society leaders argue that conducting a census without NRC verification risks validating illegal settlements into permanent records.
Consequently, local bodies in Keishampat announced that enumerators will not be allowed to operate in their neighborhoods. State leaders continue negotiations with central authorities to resolve the sequencing dispute before national Census operations begin.