Imphal, Aug 16: Three protesters were injured after police fired tear gas shells to disperse demonstrators protesting against the conduct of Census 2027 without prior implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur on Sunday, according to members of the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD) Students’ Wing. Police, however, said only one protester sustained minor injuries during the action.

JFD member Somorjit Luwang identified the injured protesters as Khangembam Pilot, who was admitted to JNIMS Hospital; Longjam Roja, admitted to Advanced Hospital; and Angom Daisy, admitted to Kripadashini Advanced Hospital. Luwang alleged that one of the injured protesters is in critical condition and that some demonstrators suffered head injuries during the confrontation with security personnel.

These claims could not be independently verified by The Assam Tribune. The confrontation took place outside the Directorate of Census Operations at Porompat in Imphal East district, a day before the self-enumeration phase of Census 2027 is scheduled to begin on August 17.

The main house-listing exercise is scheduled from September 1 to 30. Members of the JFD Students’ Wing gathered outside the Directorate, raising slogans against conducting the Census without first implementing the NRC.

Officials said protesters carrying placards reading “No NRC, No Census” forced trainees to leave the venue before the training could begin. “We have been demanding NRC to identify illegal immigrants.

However, the government is seeking to conduct the Census without carrying out NRC. NRC is important to save future generations,” Wangamba said.

According to the protesters, demonstrators attempted to enter the office premises and later tried to lock the main gate after being stopped by security personnel, prompting police to intervene and fire tear gas shells. Luwang said protests were also held at several locations in Imphal, with indefinite agitations continuing at Thangmeib and in Imphal West and Wangkhei Wall Club.

He said the confrontation at the Directorate of Census Operations in Porompat was the most intense. The JFD has maintained that citizenship verification through the NRC should precede the Census to help identify alleged illegal immigrants and establish the state’s demographic composition.

Luwang said the organisation would intensify its agitation, with further protest programmes scheduled from Sunday evening. The latest protest marks an escalation in the JFD Students’ Wing’s campaign against the Census exercise.