Meira Paibi torch rally in Imphal presses for NRC update ahead of census

A large crowd of Meira Paibi activists assembled in Imphal, the capital of Manipur, holding torches in a coordinated rally. The demonstrators marched through the city’s main thoroughfares, creating a striking visual of illuminated banners and chants.
The core demand of the rally was a prompt update of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the country’s next census. Participants warned that without an updated NRC, the census could misrepresent the demographic realities of the state.
The protest underscores the growing pressure on both state and central authorities to address citizenship concerns in the northeastern region. Officials have yet to issue a formal response, but the rally signals that the issue will remain on the political agenda in the weeks ahead.