Three protesters were injured after police used tear gas to disperse demonstrators opposing the Census 2027 and the absence of a prior National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur, the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) Students’ Wing reported on Sunday.
JFD member Somorjit Luwang identified the injured as Khangembam Pilot, admitted to JNIMS Hospital; Longjam Roja, admitted to Advanced Hospital; and Angom Daisy, admitted to Kripadashini Advanced Hospital.
The clash took place outside the Directorate of Census Operations in Porompat, Imphal East district, a day before the self-enumeration phase of Census 2027 begins on August 17. The main house-listing exercise is scheduled from September 1 to 30.
Officials stated that protesters bearing placards reading “No NRC, No Census” compelled trainees to leave before their session started.
The JFD insists that NRC-based citizenship verification must precede the Census to identify alleged illegal immigrants and clarify the state's demographic profile.
