Manipur sit-in protest enters third day, six-point charter of demands raised

A sit-in protest was held at Singjamei Naorem Leikai in Imphal West under the aegis of the All Manipur United Clubs Organisation (AMUCO), along with like-minded organisations including AMAWOVA, PLMPAM, COHR and MSF, over a six-point charter of demands concerning the ongoing situation in Manipur.

According to AMUCO representative Sorokhaibam Sanjoy Singh, the protest has been underway since September 13 in view of the prevailing situation in the state.

The protesters have raised six key demands, including updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) with 1951 as the base year before the Census, annulling the recently concluded Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2026 of electoral rolls, resettling internally displaced persons (IDPs), repealing the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) across Manipur, protecting the territorial and social integrity of Manipur, and bringing an end to the ongoing crisis.

Sanjoy Singh said the prolonged crisis had severely affected communities across the state, while internally displaced people continue to live in relief camps under difficult conditions. He criticised the government over what he described as a lack of sincere efforts to address the situation.

The protesters also raised concerns over the alleged influx of illegal immigrants into Manipur. Sanjoy Singh claimed that the issue was linked to several problems in the state and alleged the presence of a “foreign hand” in the ongoing conflict. These claims were made by the protest organisers and were not independently established in the statement.

He stressed the need for updating the NRC with 1951 as the base year and urged the state authorities to exert pressure on the Centre to facilitate the process.

Sanjoy Singh said the sit-in would continue until the concerned authorities addressed their demands and warned that the protest could be intensified if the government continued to ignore their concerns.