Fears raised over Census 2026 in Manipur amid displacement and illegal immigration concerns
Source: The Sangai Express

Thoubal, December 29 2025: Social worker Sanjoy Ahanthem has expressed serious apprehensions over the conduct of the nationwide Census 2026 in Manipur, warning that if carried out under the present circumstances it could have far-reaching implications for the State's social and political fabric.

Ahanthem voiced his concerns while addressing a sit-in protest held at his residence at Wangoo Sabal, where he highlighted issues arising from the ongoing displacement of people and the alleged presence of illegal immigrants.

He said the Census, scheduled to be conducted in two phases from April 1 by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner under the Ministry of Home Affairs, may not reflect ground realities in Manipur.

According to Ahanthem, several Meitei villages affected by the ethnic violence that erupted on May 3, 2023, remain deserted, with residents still displaced and unable to return to their homes.

He cautioned that such villages and households could be excluded during the first phase of house listing and village surveys, potentially leading to the loss of recognition of many settlements traditionally inhabited by Meiteis.

He further alleged that more than 1,800 villages not officially recognised by the State Government could be granted recognition, and that a large number of illegal immigrants or infiltrators from neighbouring countries such as Myanmar and Bangladesh might be included in the Census.

Such inclusion, he claimed, could result in them being acknowledged as bona fide citizens under Indian law.

Clarifying that his stance was not against the Census process itself, Ahanthem referred to the 2001 Census, stating that it revealed irregular decadal population growth patterns.

While the national average growth rate stood at 17.7 per cent, the Manipur valley recorded around 18 per cent, he said, adding that nine sub-divisions across three hill districts showed unusually high growth rates, ranging from a minimum of 41 per cent to as high as 169 per cent.

He argued that such figures have intensified fears surrounding the conduct of a fair Census in the State.

Emphasising the need for prior corrective measures, Ahanthem asserted that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) should be implemented in Manipur before undertaking the Census.

He stressed that illegal immigrants allegedly settled across various parts of the State must be identified and deported, and normalcy restored, before any enumeration exercise is carried out.

During the protest, participants displayed placards bearing slogans such as "No NRC, No Census", "NRC First, Census Next", "Peace and NRC First, then Census", "Illegal Immigrants Crushing Manipur", and "Do Fair Census and Save Manipur", echoing demands for safeguards ahead of Census 2026 .

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