COCOMI calls for sustained NRC movement
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 23 2026: The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has called for sustained movement until NRC is updated before Census 2027 operations.

Government employees and persons who continue to take part in census related exercises against the people's aspiration may be treated as "traitors to the State," the committee said in a statement.

The call for updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) prior to census is a legitimate demand that will help secure and shape the future of the State and her indigenous people.

Such a demand must not be treated lightly by the Government, it said.

The committee stressed that the demand is being raised by the indigenous communities including the Nagas.

It recalled that the committee and the UNC, representing the Nagas, had submitted a joint memorandum to the Government seeking NRC in 2022 .

The NRC is an exercise that would help detect and identify foreigners, illegal immigrants settling in Manipur, and secure the interests of the State and the indigenous people.

Considering the importance of this exercise, the Government must take appropriate actions, it said.

Denouncing the Government's "indifferent" attitude toward the public and the movement for NRC, COCOMI said that the decision to conduct census exercises amid the conflict seems immature and irrational.

It also asserted the Government closing schools and colleges from August 20 to 22 was aimed at undermining the public movement and their legitimate demand.

Reiterating the call for NRC, COCOMI said all census operations in Manipur must be held only after the NRC is updated and all the internally displaced persons are allowed to return to their original place of residence.

The public movement must sustain until the NRC is updated before the census, said the committee, further urging Government employees who have been assigned census related duties to consciously stay away from the exercise.

The future of the Government employees will also be at stake if census is conducted before updating the NRC.

So, they must consciously stay away from all census related exercises.

Those who continue to take part in census related exercises may be treated as "traitors to the State," COCOMI said.

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