Manipur hit by 48-hour strike, women injured in clashes with security forces

A 48-hour general strike was initiated in Manipur on Tuesday, with the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) advocating for the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) ahead of the 2027 Census. Protests erupted in various parts of the state, particularly in the valley districts, resulting in road closures, traffic disruptions, and business shutdowns.

Shops and commercial establishments remained closed throughout the duration of the strike, which is set to conclude by midnight on Wednesday. While most of the protests were peaceful, there were isolated instances of tension. In one incident, a security forces convoy allegedly deployed a mock bomb against a group of supporters, resulting in injuries to a woman.

In Porompat, located in Imphal East district, at least four women protesters sustained injuries during interactions with the police. The state government called upon protesters to employ democratic methods of dissent and refrain from causing public inconvenience. Government spokesperson and MLA Sapam Ranjan Singh reiterated the government's commitment to addressing NRC and Census concerns, emphasizing that the Manipur Legislative Assembly had previously passed a resolution on August 5, 2022, urging the implementation of the NRC ahead of the Census.

The resolution was reaffirmed by the Assembly on March 1, 2024. Singh expressed that the NRC matter has been a persistent issue and the state government has consistently pursued the matter through correspondence with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. He also highlighted the need for a united approach to resolve the matter, irrespective of political, community, or other differences, as it pertains to the future of the state and its inhabitants.