Imphal: Manipur is reeling under widespread paralysis today as a web of conflicting shutdowns, strikes, and blockades has brought life to a standstill. Despite the Centre’s decision to defer the Census, various organizations are pushing ahead with agitations. Valley-based groups demand the National Register of Citizens (NRC) with 1951 as the base year, while the United Naga Council has launched an economic blockade in Naga-inhabited areas to block census fieldwork. Simultaneously, the Committee on Tribal Unity (CoTU) has enforced a 24-hour shutdown on National Highway-2, citing a deadly attack at Teikhang village that left three civilians dead and four injured.
Chief Minister Yumnam Khemchand Singh condemned the strikes, warning that they inflict severe pain on daily-wage earners, vendors, and students. He argued that the state and Union governments are already working to address public aspirations. "I appeal to all sections of society and all concerned stakeholders to work collectively towards restoring lasting peace and normalcy. I also urge all concerned to refrain from bandhs and general strikes, which adversely affect the lives and livelihoods of our people," Khemchand said in a Facebook post.
The current unrest persists despite high-level intervention. Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently chaired a meeting in New Delhi with Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and Chief Minister Khemchand, leading to the official deferment of the Census. The Manipur High Court has also ordered that the Census remain stalled until further notice, with the next hearing scheduled for October 12, 2026. Rajya Sabha MP Adhikarimayum Sharda Devi credited the state government for successfully communicating local sentiments to the Centre.
Police activity remains tense. Commandos recently attempted to detain JFD convenor Jitendra Ningombam at Konung Mamang, though local Meira Paibis intervened to secure his release. Police claimed the stop was for a missing vehicle license plate, amid existing legal pressure on the activist. Meanwhile, a coalition of 14 civil society organizations has urged all MLAs to attend the upcoming Assembly session to introduce an adjournment motion or a private member's bill regarding the NRC.
The impact on the ground is stark. Schools are closed, commercial hubs like Khwairamband Keithel remain empty, and transport is largely suspended. While inter-state bus services between Imphal, Dimapur, and Guwahati have resumed, the broader blockade continues to threaten the delivery of food, fuel, and medical supplies. Emergency services remain exempt, but the civilian economy faces mounting pressure as the standoff over demographic safeguards continues.
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